ALEPPO, SYRIA (Catholic Online) - The news out of Syria continues to shock the conscience of anyone who still has one. However, the solutions, at least from a geopolitical perspective, evade a clear answer. The regime of Bashar al-Assad, the President of Syria, is committing atrocities against the Syrian people.  The allegations I they have used chemical weapons against their own people.

However, the opposition is composed of some groups which may be even worse than the regime. For example, the militant Islamists. In the crosshairs of this escalating violence are the Christians. Just this week, Bishop Boulos Yazigi of the Greek Orthodox Church and Bishop John Ibrahim of the Assyrian Orthodox Church were kidnapped. They were traveling from the Turkish border to Aleppo, Syria.

Among the strongest voices in the growing international outcry calling for the release of the Bishops is Pope Francis, a champion of peace who is also well aware of the dangers of militant, extremist versions of Islam. He referred to the kidnapping as "a dramatic confirmation of the tragic situation in which the Syrian population and its Christian community is living."

Like most of my readers, the continual images coming out of the Syrian tragedy trouble me greatly. The horrors inflicted upon men, women and children by a regime which seems to have no conscience continually fill our television, computer and smart phone screens with an almost surreal regularity.

However, the infliction of these wounds and the multiplication of murderous acts is not limited to the current regime in Syria. Some who claim to be combating the regime seem just as hell bent on killing, maiming and inflicting evil upon the people of Syria, and, in particular, upon the Christians of that ancient land. Our Christian faith precedes in time and history the presence of Islam in Syria.

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Vatican City, May 3, 2013 / 10:25 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis and Lebanese president Michel Sleiman met to discuss the Syrian fighting and the influx of refugees it has sent into his country. According to Father Federico Lombardi, the Vatican press office director, the meeting focused on “the regional situation, with special reference to the Syrian conflict.” “The Pope is concerned with the large number of Syrian refugees who have sought refuge in Lebanon and neighboring countries,” he said.

Pope Francis called Friday for greater humanitarian aid for Syrian refugees in Lebanon and surrounding countries, after meeting with President Michel Suleiman at the Vatican.

"The huge number of Syrian refugees who have sought refuge in Lebanon and the neighboring countries gives rise to particular concern," the Vatican said following the talks.

"Greater humanitarian aid is called for, for the refugees and the suffering population, with the support of the international community," it said.

The United Nations in mid-April said that Lebanon was housing 400,000 Syrians who have fled the conflict now in its third year which has killed more than 70,000 people.

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