Skip to content

We ask you, humbly: don't scroll away.

Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you.

Help Now >

Carmelites refuse to leave - Only 40,000 Christians left in Aleppo amid continuous airstrikes

Free World Class Education
FREE Catholic Classes
'The Middle East, the land of Christ, now risks becoming empty of Christians.'

Syrian and Russian forces continue to bombard Syria with continuous airstrikes but Carmelite nuns refuse to leave their convent.

We ask you, humbly: don't scroll away.

Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you.

Help Now >

Highlights

By Kenya Sinclair (CALIFORNIA NETWORK)
Catholic Online (https://www.catholic.org)
8/8/2016 (7 years ago)

Published in Middle East

Keywords: Carmelites, Aleppo, Christians, airstrikes, ACN

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - According to the Catholic Herald, the nuns requested help from Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) to help the people who can't leave.

Sister Anne-Françoise, of Aleppo's Discalced Carmelite Sisters, stated: "the bombs are falling all around us, but we are not going to leave the people in their suffering.


"When the Syrian army attempts to prevent the opposition and other groups from entering into the city, the bombing and shelling is really close to us."

The Carmelite convent is located on the outskirts of Aleppo, which is constantly bombarded by airstrikes. The Sisters explained Aleppo's citizens left as soon as the war began and slowly intensified, leaving only the poorest citizens.

Sister Anne-Françoise explained: "We have no water, no electricity, and the fighting is continuing incessantly. Who could possibly come back in these conditions?" The Middle East, the land of Christ, now risks becoming empty of Christians. That is unthinkable, and yet the situation is truly terrible."

The situation in Aleppo is so dire only 40,000 Christians remain of its previously 160-thousand-strong population.

According to Sojourners, the nuns' appeal to the ACN has led to the group's attempt to draw attention to the Carmelite's plight.


Syrian ground troops backed by Russian missiles constantly fight opposing rebels in an attempt to gain control of the city yet still the Carmelite nuns refuse to leave.

Sister Anne-Françoise explained: "When the Syrian army attempts to prevent the opposition and other groups from entering the city, the bombing and shelling is really close to us. Thank God, they haven't hit us yet, but we are constantly hearing the shells pass over our heads.

"...The diplomatic solutions have not worked," the Sister continued. "We simply pray to the Lord that this war may stop."

In her closing appeal, Sister Anne-Françoise explained: "Please take pity on these thousands of lives, torn apart by war. Please don't forget us. We need your prayers and your practical help!"

Meanwhile, U.S. President Barack Obama warned Russian President Vladimir Putin isn't likely to be trusted: "But Russia has failed to take the necessary steps. Given the deteriorating situation, it is time for Russia to show it is serious about pursuing these objectives.

"We're going to test and see if we can get something that sticks. And if not, then Russia will have shown itself very clearly to be an irresponsible actor around the world stage that is supporting a murderous regime."

---


'Help Give every Student and Teacher FREE resources for a world-class Moral Catholic Education'


Copyright 2021 - Distributed by Catholic Online

Light Your Free Payer Candle for a departed loved one

What is Palm Sunday?

Live on March 20, 2024 @ 10am PDT

Join the Movement
When you sign up below, you don't just join an email list - you're joining an entire movement for Free world class Catholic education.

Lent logo
Saint of the Day logo

Catholic Online Logo

Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, © Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited.

Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. Your Catholic Voice Foundation has been granted a recognition of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Federal Tax Identification Number: 81-0596847. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law.