Cardinal Mario Zenari, Apostolic Nuncio of Syria, who visited Hungary between 20–22 January, spoke about the sufferings of the Syrian nation, especially children in the ceremonial hall of the Pázmány Péter Catholic University at Budapest on 21 January. A hospital program enabling the treatment of the poor supported by the Hungarian government was also introduced.
The lecture was organized by the Pázmány Péter Catholic University and the State Secretariat for the Aid of Persecuted Christians and the Hungary Helps Program. Michael August Blume, Apostolic Nuncio to Hungary and Cardinal Péter Erdő, Primate of Hungary and Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest attended the event.
Cardinal Zenari said that he has served in Syria since 2008, where Saint Paul became the Apostle of the Heathen and we were first invited to Christianity. Eight years ago a wave of violence erupted in the country and – as European political leaders put it – turned it into a “living hell” and caused unimaginable suffering. The facts speak for themselves: five hundred thousand people dead, one and a half million injured, 35 % of homes and 54 % of hospitals damaged, every third school destroyed or unfit for use, 70 % of people living in extreme poverty, 60 % of them unemployed.
Cardinal Zenari emphasised the exodus of Christians. After World War II 30 % of the country remained Christian, but this figure plummeted to 5-6 % before the war: due to emigration and a birth rate much lower than in the Muslim community. This ratio fell to 2 % after eight years of armed conflict. This is a death sentence for the Apostolic Churches and not because of the destruction of sacred places, but due to the fact that educated young men are fleeing from the country and girls do not find a Catholic husband. But – as Pope Francis often claimed – the Middle East will not be the same without Christians.
The Cardinal unveiled the invaluable commitment of Christian communities: the Churches are present at the scenes of deep sorrow together with Christ, who says: "I feel sorry for all these people; they have been with me for three days now and have nothing to eat” (see Mark 8:2).
“Give them something to eat yourselves” as “you received without charge, give without charge.” Mario Zenari expressed his gratitude for the support of several international Christian organizations and for the generous commitment of Syrian Churches, while sincerely thanking the Hungarian government on behalf of the Syrian Church for the support provided through the Open Hospital program. The 1.5 million euro aid of the Hungarian government covers the hospital care of 4500 poor Syrians.
The Open Hospitals program was introduced by Giampaolo Silvestri, General Secretary of the Italian AVSI non-governmental organization. The main goal of the organization – established in 1972 and active in 31 countries with 1600 employees – is to promote human dignity through development projects.
