“They send us death and we give them back life…They throw hatred at us and we offer love in return.”
This message expresses the hope that has sustained our Caritas teams as they have stood by the people of Syria through eight bloody years of civil war.
It comes from inspirational Franciscan friar Fr Ibrahim Ansabach, a Caritas friend and partner who stayed with his people of St Francis’ parish in Aleppo as seventy per cent of the city was bombed into oblivion around them. “The Church has always been present,” he says simply.
“As Caritas, we are the heart of the Catholic church in Syria,” says Riad Sargi, head of our national network. “We cannot help all of the people with all their needs, but we are trying to do our best. The demand is really huge.”