The Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, Cardinal Michael Czerny, traveled to Syria to see first-hand the harsh humanitarian crisis that has been affecting the country for years and to listen to those who are committed to helping the victims of this crisis, particularly in the areas of health, livelihoods, and recovery from the devastating 2023 earthquake.
As with every mission, the Prefect devoted some time to listening and dialogue with the Bishops of Syria, to which was added a meeting with His Beatitude Ignatius Joseph III Younan, Patriarch of the Syriac-Catholic Church. The meeting concluded with an ecumenical lunch at the Nunciature in Damascus.
During his mission, the Prefect, accompanied by the Apostolic Nuncio, Cardinal Mario Zenari, and the Regional Coordinator of the Dicastery for the Middle East, Ms. Pascale Debbane, met with several Syrian charitable organizations coordinated by the Charity Commission as well as with Caritas Syria. He visited the Jaramana Beit Alberto (Alberto Hurtado House) of the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) and took time to listen to several internally displaced families. He also met with representatives of the UNHCR in Syria.
Subsequently, the Prefect of the DPIHD had the opportunity to visit the dispensary of the Kashkul area, on the outskirts of the Syrian capital, and the popular kitchen. He took time to see two out of three “Open Hospitals”, a project managed by the AVSI Foundation, which offers medical assistance to those in need.
There were also moments of deep spirituality, such as a prayer in front of the relics of the "Martyrs of Damascus" killed in 1860, who will be canonized on October 20th in Rome. There was also a visit to the Melkite Cathedral, the House of Saint Ananias and the Memorial of Saint Paul, as well as convivial moments, such as the dinner with the Jesuit brothers.
