Syrian [Catholic] bishop mourns ‘devastated’ city
CWN – October 18, 2012
Bishop Antoine Audo of Aleppo, Syria, described the city as “devastated—much of it in ruins” in an address to the British Parliament.
The Chaldean Catholic bishop said that he has decided to remain in Aleppo, to encourage the remaining faithful there, despite the dangers caused by a raging civil war. He said that he did even not travel to Lebanon to meet Pope Benedict, because “the people will feel alone.”
Syria today could “go the way of Iraq,” Bishop Audo warned. That result would be “a catastrophe,” he said, especially in light of the long history of Christianity in Syria, tracing back to the missionary voyages of St. Paul.
Additional sources for this story: Bishop of Aleppo: The city I love is in ruins (Catholic Herald) www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2012/10/18/bishop-of-aleppo-the-city-i-love-is-in-ruins/
Syrian bishop: ‘all the churches desecrated’ in Homs
CWN – October 22, 2012
The Chaldean Catholic bishop of Aleppo, Syria’s largest city, told an audience at Parliament in London that the city is in “chaos.”
Christians “have fled their homes because of the threat of bombs, they have lost their livelihoods; schools, hospitals and other public services do not function,” said Bishop Antoine Audo, a Jesuit who has led his eparchy (Eastern-rite diocese) of 35,000 Chaldean Catholics since 1992.
“80% of people have no job and have no option but to stay at home,” he added. “Poverty is getting very serious, especially with rising prices and no salaries. The face of the city has changed. There is no security, everything is dirty, there are difficulties in basic travel, no taxis, no buses.”
“In the city of Homs, home to what was the country’s second-largest Christian community, all but a few of the faithful were forced to leave after a wave of persecution — all the churches desecrated,” he continued.
Additional sources for this story: Bishop says Christians left in Aleppo, Syria, struggle to survive (CNS) www.uscatholic.org/news/2012/10/bishop-says-christians-left-aleppo-syria-struggle-survive