“An untold number of dead and wounded, millions of refugees, thousands missing, destruction, violence of all kinds and immense suffering for the entire population, especially the most vulnerable, such as children, women and the elderly,” said the Pope. He also called on the international community to provide “decisive and renewed” commitment to rebuild-ing the nation, so that “once the weapons have been laid down, the social fabric can be mended and reconstruction and economic recovery can begin.”

Francis in his appeal for an end to Syria’s decade-long civil war, as the people of the Middle Eastern nation struggle to survive on March 14, Vatican