Caritas Internationalis president on how the crises in Gaza, Syria, Iraq and the persecution of Christian and other minorities in the Middle East are the greatest emergency the world has faced since the end of the Second World War.
Caritas Internationalis President Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga will open a High Level Caritas meeting 15-17 September in Rome on Syria, Gaza and Iraq.
Caritas has helped almost 1 million people affected by the crises in Syria, Gaza and Iraq, but with turmoil deepening, needs are growing while resources shrink.
Caritas Jordan is paying airfare from Erbil to Amman for 1000 Iraqi Christians fleeing persecution, and then shelter and other aid once they arrive in Jordan.
"My thoughts are also for the charity work performed by Church institutions like Caritas Jordan and others, who, by caring for the needy without distinction of religion, ethnicity or ideology, have shown the splendor of the charitable face of the merciful Jesus.," said Pope Francis on Holy Land pilgrimmage.
Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga met with a group of Syrian refugees in Jordan and shared with them a message of solidarity from Pope Francis.
Syrian children risk becoming a lost generation unless they receive education. Caritas and the Church are providing school support inside the country and across the region.
Syrian refugee families have fled violence in their own country. Their lives are now in limbo as they wait for peace so they can return home.
Over three million Syrian children have dropped out of school since the crisis began. Caritas is working in Lebanon and Jordan with Syrian refugees, to help children get back to school.
Caritas says international conference on Syria must lead to an immediate ceasefire to end the violence and allow aid to reach people.