Working toward solutions in Syria and Iraq

The Holy See's Dicastery for the Development of Human Integration has organized a meeting concerning the humanitarian crisis that is unfolding in Syria and Iraq.  This meeting will take place on 13 and 14 September in the John Paul II Auditorium at the Pontifical Urban University.  There are more than 50 Catholic charitable organizations which will be represented, as well as representatives of the local bishops, ecclesial institutions and religious Congregations which are currently present and working in Syria, Iraq and neighbouring countries.  The Apostolic Nuncios in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Turkey will also be in attendance.

On the first day, the working session will be introduced by Monsignor Segundo Tejado Muñoz, Under-secretary of the Dicastery for the Development of Human Integration; a speech by Cardinal Peter K.A. Turkson, Prefect of that same Dicastery; and a presentation reporting the results of a survey concerning the humanitarian crises in Syria and Iraq (2017-2018) which was conducted by the Dicastery.  This will be followed by a presentation by the Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin and various developments concerning the political and humanitarian situation which will be reported by the Apostolic Nuncio in Syria - Cardinal Mario Zenari - and the Apostolic Nuncio in Iraq and Jordan - His Excellency, Alberto Ortega Martín.  The day will conclude with a report from Doctor Filippo Grandi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), who will speak particularly about the challenges and the prospects presented by the current situation of migration in the affected countries.

On the morning of 14 September, the participants will meet in working groups to focus on concrete aspects of collaboration between the various agencies that are committed to responding to the crisis.  The afternoon session will be dedicated to the delicate theme of helping migrants and refugees to return to their communities of origin.  Following a speech by Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Prefect of the Congregation for Oriental Churches, and a presentation by Father Fabio Baggio, Under-secretary of the Dicastery for the Development of Human Integration's Section for Migrants and Refugees, the participants will meet once again in their working groups and focus on the specific theme of that session.

Following the discussions in working groups, the conclusions that have resulted from the working groups will be presented to Cardinal Turkson.

On Friday, 14 September, the participants will be received in audience by the Holy Father at the Apostolic Palace.

The objective of the meeting, continuing the path that was undertaken six years ago, is to propose a moment of reflection and fraternal communion between all the ecclesial institutions involved in the work of charity and assisting the people who have been affected by the humanitarian crises, about which the Holy Father has repeatedly spoken and focused the attention of public opinion; to take account of the work that is already being done by Catholic charitable organizations in the context of the crisis, sharing information about the evolution of the humanitarian situations and the responses of the Church; to discuss the critical issues that have emerged and to prioritize for the future; to analyze the situations being experienced by various Christian communities living in those countries that have been affected by war, while promoting synergy between various ecclesial organizations, religious Congregations and dioceses.   A particular reflection will be offered this year to the realistic prospects of a voluntary return of internally displaced persons and refugees to their communities of origin.

The conflict in Syria and Iraq has produced one of the most serious humanitarian crises seen in recent decades.  The Holy See, in addition to diplomatic action, is actively participating in programmes aimed at helping and providing humanitarian assistance.  Since 2014, the ecclesial network has allocated more than $1 billion to emergency response, benefitting more than 4 million individuals per year.  According to United Nations sources, there are currently more than 13 million people in Syria who are in need of help and more than 9 million in Iraq; there are more than 6 million displaced persons in Syria and more than 2 million in Iraq, while 5.6 million Syrian refugees have registered in neighbouring countries, including Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt.  At the moment, voluntary return to Syria would affect more than 3.9 million people.