Pope Pens Letter to Summit Leaders Asking for End to Syria Conflict
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Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images(VATICAN CITY) — Pope Francis is urging the world’s leaders to abandon what he calls the pursuit of a military solution in Syria and work instead on getting the opposing parties to negotiate an end to the conflict.
The pope sent a letter to G20 summit host Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday voicing his concerns.
Pope Francis writes he laments that “one-sided interests” have prevailed in the country, preventing a “peaceful solution to emerge.
His words were directed not just towards Putin, but to every world leader present at the summit.
“Let there be a renewed commitment to seek, with courage and determination, a peaceful solution through dialogue and negotiation of the parties, unanimously supported by the international community,” he writes.
“Moreover, all governments have the moral duty to do everything possible to ensure humanitarian assistance to those suffering because of the conflict, both within and beyond the country’s borders,” Frances adds.
The G20 summit is taking place in St. Petersburg on Thursday and Friday.
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