Polish Church raises funds for Syria
PR dla Zagranicy
Nick Hodge
23.02.2016 08:25
Roman Catholic churchgoers in Poland have donated 4.5 million zlotys, an equivalent of over one million euros, for victims of all faiths in the conflict in Syria.
Syrian policemen and citizens inspect the site of a twin bomb attack in the city of Homs, Syria, 21 February 2015.EPA/STR
The funds, which were collected in Polish churches on 8 November, the Day of Solidarity with the Persecuted Church, were handed over to Christian leaders in Syria by Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki, the head of the Polish Episcopate, and Father Waldemar Cisło who is in charge of the Polish Section of the Papal Association ‘Kirche in Not’ (Aid to the Church in Need).
Prayers for peace in the Middle East, humanitarian assistance and meetings with Christian communities were on the programme of their five-day visit to Syria, paid at the invitation of Gregory III Laham, the spiritual leader of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church.
Back in Warsaw, Father Cisło told reporters that the funds raised in Poland have been made available to all victims of the conflict, both Christians and Muslims.
“There’s an urgent need to help Syria as the situation there is tragic,” the archbishop said.
“Some 300,000 have been killed, 1.2 million suffered wounds and injuries, 20,000 people have been adbucted for ransom and 6 million have been forced to leave their homes and emigrate.”
He added that ‘Kirche in Not’ has transferred EUR 1.2 million for humanitarian assistance in Syria. (mk/nh)