Syria: Chaldean Bishop of Aleppo says “no” to military intervention

"If there were a military intervention, I think this would lead to a world war," said Mgr. Antoine Audo, Chaldean Bishop of Aleppo and President of Caritas Syria in an interview with Vatican Radio. The bishop stressed that this risk is palpable again in Syria and that things are not that easy.

As UN inspectors investigating Syria’s alleged use of chemical weapons meet with civilians affected by chemical agents during last Wednesday’s toxic gas attacks in the suburbs of the Syrian capital Damascus, Mgr. Audo called for “real dialogue between the parties in conflict” find a solution to this war that is sowing destruction and death.” He also said he hoped for an end to the fighting, so that “people will be free to move around, travel, communicate (and) work."

According to Caritas Syria’s president, everyone is saying the situation is worst in Aleppo. In Damascus it is apparently still possible to travel and use the airport to get to Lebanon, whereas in Aleppo you can’t move. Many have fled to the Syrian coast, where things are generally calmer.

Meanwhile, the Free Youth Committee in Raqqa, which is linked to the Syrian opposition, told Fides news agency: "We know with certainty that Fr. Paolo is in serious danger. Speaking in a politics forum on Italy’s Radical Radio, this morning, Italian Foreign Minister Emma Bonino talked about the kidnappings of Jesuit priest Fr. Paolo Dall’Oglio and Italian newspaper La Stampa’s Syria correspondent, Domencio Quirico. She said there had been some faint and confused contact with them. She added that the situation on the ground in Syria complicates things further as there is inconsistent leadership among the various groups, making it very difficult to know who to address.