Pope Francis. Photo: Casa Rosada/Wikimedia Commons

JNS.org – Pope Francis, during a meeting with several humanitarian groups dealing with the Syrian civil war, renewed his appeal for peace in Syria and also called on the world’s Christian community to help Syrian Christians, Independent Catholic News reported.

“In the face of ongoing and overwhelming violence, I strongly renew my appeal for peace,” Pope Francis said in remarks at the Vatican organized by Pontifical Council Cor Unum, the Vatican’s main Catholic charity.

Pope Francis also spoke about Syria’s beleaguered Christian community and called on the world’s Christian community to support them.

“My thoughts at this moment also go to the Christian communities who live in Syria and throughout the Middle East. The Church supports the members of these communities who today find themselves in special difficulty. These have the great task of continuing to offer a Christian presence in the place where they were born. And it is our task to ensure that this witness remain there. The participation of the entire Christian community to this important work of assistance and aid is imperative at this time,” Pope Francis said.