Rector Major "can see and feel so much hope!" in Aleppo

Rector Major “can see and feel

so much hope!” in Aleppo

(ANS – Aleppo, Syria – April 10) – From Damascus Fr. Angel Fernandez Artime traveled on to Aleppo, passing thru other important Syrian cities marked by the suffering of war, but also by the hope of those who, like the Salesians and the youths of the Salesian houses, have decided to continue to believe in a future of peace and prosperity.

After arriving in Aleppo on the afternoon of Saturday, April 7, Don Bosco’s 10th successor visited the city the next day and recorded a video-message.

Today is Sunday, April 8, 2018. Here in Aleppo we find ourselves in the same place whence our confreres sent us their Christmas greeting. I am very happy to be here with all these young people, the Salesian Family, our sisters of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, our brothers, all as one family and Salesian Youth Movement, here to say a word to our whole Salesian world, to the Salesian Family in the world, to our confreres and sisters and to all the young people who can listen to us.

I am happy to tell you that we have come to pray for peace, to pray for a meeting between peoples, cultures, and religions, and also to ask the Lord that with our human freedom this war and destruction is never repeated.

I must tell you that we are struck by so much destruction, so much pain, so many deaths, for 102,000 people who have been injured by bombs, and more than 3, 4, 5 million Syrians who have left Syria. This is really painful.

But I want to tell you something else that you can see and feel: there is so much hope!

First, because in faith, even more so during this Easter season, one truly feels that life continues, and that life, fraternity, and help are possible, that the Lord supports everyone, all believers of any creed in the one and only God. We see that life returns, that there is a real desire to rebuild fraternity, to living side by side, to continue serving one’s own people, those who follow, those who were born in these years.

Dear Salesian Family, dear young people, let me ask, above all, for understanding, for a look of tenderness for these confreres, sisters, friends, for a prayer with faith to the Lord, so that they do not lack for strength. And I continue to appeal again to fraternity and solidarity, to help those who have lost everything, with a big embrace and a strong feeling of friendship toward our Salesian reality, which is very beautiful and Christian, and also an embrace simply of the citizens of Aleppo and of Syria.

To all of you a big hug, and a greeting from everyone.

In the afternoon, after meeting several Syrian prelates for lunch, the Rector Major celebrated Mass, at which 13 Salesian Cooperators made their promises. A meeting followed with high school and university students and then with some Salesian Cooperators, including some from Damascus and Kafroun, who spoke to the Rector Major about the ongoing war.

“Father Angel has truly moved us in these last few moments! He has truly been a father and brother for everyone. He listened to us, told us that he shall continue to pray for us and that he will speak about the Salesians and young people in Syria to the entire world,” concluded the communications delegate of the Middle Province East, Sally A-Jamra.