Syrian president hails Pope Francis for civil war support

People queue to pay their respects to late Pope Francis as his body lies in state, outside St Peter’s Basilica in The Vatican, on April 23, 2025. Tens of thousands of mourners began saying their last goodbyes to Pope Francis at St Peter’s Basilica Wednesday, as the body of the late Argentine pontiff began three days of lying in state. — Photo by Agence France-Presse

Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa paid tribute Wednesday to Pope Francis on Wednesday, saying he had supported the Syrian people “during their darkest moments.”

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The Argentine pontiff, who died Monday aged 88, “supported the Syrian people in their darkest moments, constantly raising his voice against the violence and injustice they faced,” Sharaa said in a statement.

“His calls transcended political boundaries, and his legacy of moral courage and solidarity will remain alive in the hearts of many people in our country,” he said, extending condolances to Roman Catholics.

Syria is home to a shrinking Catholic minority, whose numbers have falled from around one million before the outbreak of civil war in 2011 to fewer than 300,000 due to waves of displacement and emigration.

The Catholic community is primarily concentrated along Syria’s coastal region, where new violence in March — the most intense since the new authorities came to power in December — raised concerns among minority communities across the country.