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(Vatican Radio)  Pope Francis has sent an official delegate from the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Promotion of Integral Human Development to Aleppo in Syria.

Msgr. Giampietro Dal Toso, the Pope’s delegate, visited the war-ravaged city on the 18-23 January, accompanied by Cardinal Mario Zenari, Apostolic Nunzio to Syria, and Msgr. Thomas Habib, Counselor to the Nunziature.

A statement released on Tuesday by the Dicastery for Integral Human Development said this was the first official visit by representatives of the Holy See after the end of hostilities in Aleppo.

“The delegation was able to meet with the Christian communities and their pastors, who expressed gratitude to the Pope for his constant concern for beloved Syria. They also visited charitable Catholic institutions and several refugee camps. In particular, a humanitarian assistance centre, overseen by Caritas Aleppo, was opened in the Hanano neighborhood.”

The Vatican delegation also participated in an ecumenical prayer service organized on occasion of the week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

Another moment of encounter occurred when the delegation met with representatives of Islam, during which “the responsibility of religions to educate for peace and reconciliation was underlined”.

Local civil and religious authorities “praised the delegation, manifesting particular gratitude for the Holy Father’s gesture of raising the Pontifical Representative of the country (Cardinal Zenari) to the dignity of the cardinalate and recognizing in him the special closeness of the Pope to the battered Syrian population”.

The statement goes on to detail the importance of the encounters with Catholic charities in the country.

“In the meetings with institutions of Catholic charity, the importance of aid offered by these institutions to the benefit of the entire Syrian population emerged. With the support of the universal Church and thanks to the generous contribution from the international community, that aid will be intensified in the future to confront people’s growing necessities.”

In conclusion, the statement detailed the items currently most needed, which include “food goods, clothing, education, sanitary equipment, and housing”.

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