\n\n
Aleppo, the city\nto be rebuilt in friendship between Muslims and Christians
\n\n
\n\n
While the war in\nSyria continues and the great of the earth discuss the fate of this country,\nevery day, in Aleppo, is mending patiently and tenaciously lives torn by sorrow\nand deprivation, bonds of care, hospitality and dedication allow women, men and\nchildren Christian and Muslims not to fall into the sink of inconsolable\ndespair.
\n\n
\n\n
Father Ibrahim\nAlsabagh, Syrian, 45, pastor of St. Francis Church, guardian of the convent,\nepiscopal vicar and head of the Latin community of Aleppo, starts telling the\ndaily life of the city, highlighting the ties that involve people of different\nfaiths. "In the area where we live, governed by the regular army, the\ncoexistence between Christians and Muslims is basically good. Various Christian\nand Muslim families are also united by long-standing friendships, which have\nnot been cracked or compromised by the war. I take daily signals of solidarity,\ncommunion and mutual respect, which we Franciscans we never tire of\nencouraging. For our part, I and my four brothers we take care of everyone,\nwithout distinction between Christians and Muslims: we run to bring aid\nmaterial or spiritual, and we welcome anyone - at any time of day or night -\nknock on our door. "
\n\n
\n\n
Life in Aleppo
\n\n
\n\n
Since the start of\nthe ceasefire, the situation in the city has changed and the living conditions\nare slightly improved: the water supply is resumed, although not in all areas\nof the city; there is again the electric current, at least for a few hours per\nday. Bombings are almost completely stopped but, Father Ibrahim says,\n"because not all groups have joined the truce, occasionally you see\nmissiles falling in some areas of the city. Nobody feels safe, we are\nconstantly on alert, fearful that the truce - widely regarded as a sign of hope\n- can be broken at any moment and resume the massive bombing. Unfortunately,\nafter five years of war, wherever there is great poverty. We intervene in many\nways: there are food kits to be distributed, to procure medicines, to attend\nsick and bring them to the hospital, elderly and infants to care with special\nattention, to repair houses damaged by bombs. And then, every day, there are\nwounded hearts to listen and console. "
\n\n
\n\n
Signs of hope
\n\n
\n\n
Father Ibrahim\nconsiders the good relations between Christians and Muslims particularly\nencouraging: "I consider them signs of hope for the future of the Syrian\npeople and constantly invite my parishioners to see in this way. Together with\nthe faithful always pray for all the people of Aleppo and Syria (and the\nworld), and we thank the Lord for the good that is done, highlighting also that\ndone by Muslims. For example, some Muslim families have hosted Christian\nfamilies who lost their homes in the bombings; or there were Muslims who\nguarded the homes of those Christians who had decided to leave Aleppo\ntemporarily.
\n\n
\n\n
These specific\nacts of charity were not numerous, but they occurred and I consider them\nsignificant.
\n\n
\n\n
In many other ways\nwe received solidarity and solicitude by Muslim faithful. Perhaps some of them\nwere also encouraged seeing us Christians intensify their efforts to care for\nand protect all, regardless of faith professed, following the example of our\nLord Jesus. "
\n\n
\n\n
some betrayals
\n\n
\n\n
Unfortunately,\nfather Ibrahim observes, painful episodes occurred: "some Muslims living\nin peace with us have proved anything but friends and brothers during the war\nshowed a fundamentalist heart, revealing a duplicity of life that no one could\nhave imagined, this caused great bitterness among Christians who knew them and\nhad had excellent relations with them.
\n\n
\n\n
We friars support\nand accompany these, our faithful urging them not to close in suffering. When\npeople (but also entire communities) live experiences of betrayal are easily\nexposed to the risk of folding in on themselves solely with one's own good and\nhis own survival, becoming greedy. We friars We strive to ensure that does not\nprevail the bitterness. However, these sad episodes do not overshadow the good\nfellowship that exists between many Christians and Muslims is also on it that,\nI think, you can rebuild the future of Syria. "
\n\n
\n\n
Pastoral care
\n\n
\n\n
During these five\nyears of war, despite the very difficult conditions, Father Ibrahim says with\nsimple pride, "the parish has maintained all activities that engage all\nChristian communities in the world: from the catechism classes, currently\nattended by 200 children, to those for engaged couples. Every day we celebrate\nMasses, very attended, both in the Church of St Francis and in the two branches\nof the parish. We have opened the Holy Door in our church and we follow\ncarefully the Magisterium of Pope Francis, to whom we are very grateful for the\ncalls and prayers for Syria. We perceive his support and that of the universal\nchurch. "
\n\n
\n\n
The Islamic\nreligious authorities
\n\n
\n\n
Recently, father\nIbrahim remembers, the board of managers of the Catholic Church of Aleppo\nvisited the council that brings together the local Islamic religious\nauthorities: "We talked for over two hours with great sincerity addressing\nseveral issues, as we do for some time when there we meet. I found that the war\nhas changed the attitudes of all: on one side the Muslim world has felt called\nto greater sincerity and transparency between thinking, saying and acting; on\nthe other we have become more courageous in announcing aloud the principles of\nour faith and of our social teaching, and more determined in requiring, when\nnecessary, freedom and space needed to live with peace in our country. This\nway, this dialog job (which I hope it will be further explored) is a challenge\nfor everyone. I consider the improvement of relations between the Christian and\nMuslim religious authorities one of the good fruit of these years of pain.
\n\n
Cristina Uguccioni
