Pope Benedict XVI speaking at the Vatican

"Christ is present as a force of hope through his church, which is close to all human situations of suffering and injustice. May the risen Christ grant hope to the Middle East and enable all the ethnic, cultural and religious groups in that region to work together to adavnce the common good. Especiallty in Syria, may there be an end to the bloodshed and an immediate commitment to the path of respect, of dialogue and reconciliation as called for by the international community"