11 oct 2012
Patriarch of Jerusalem: We will Respond to the Occupation Crimes in the Holy Land with More Construction
On Thursday 11th October, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilos III, said that Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem will respond to the Israeli attacks which have recently carried out on the holy sites by building new churches and repairing damages in the old ones.
"Muslims and Christians exist in this land as its original citizens and not as guests, and who thinks that such crimes will lead any of us to leave, will be completely wrong," Said the Patriarch, "We are convinced of our existence, and we have the right to resist and defend our land, and to preserve our religious and civilization in the holy lands."
These statements were issued in light of the Israeli continuous violations on the Christian and Muslim holy places, and the last attack was on the Romanian Orthodox Church in Jerusalem.
The Patriarchate also announced in its statement that it will increase the construction of churches in every spot in the West Bank based on the available potentials.
The Patriarch condemns the Israeli dangerous attacks that target the Islamic-Christian existence in the holy land.
"Muslims and Christians exist in this land as its original citizens and not as guests, and who thinks that such crimes will lead any of us to leave, will be completely wrong," Said the Patriarch, "We are convinced of our existence, and we have the right to resist and defend our land, and to preserve our religious and civilization in the holy lands."
These statements were issued in light of the Israeli continuous violations on the Christian and Muslim holy places, and the last attack was on the Romanian Orthodox Church in Jerusalem.
The Patriarchate also announced in its statement that it will increase the construction of churches in every spot in the West Bank based on the available potentials.
The Patriarch condemns the Israeli dangerous attacks that target the Islamic-Christian existence in the holy land.
9 oct 2012
Extremists Hurl Molotov Cocktails, Stones, At Jerusalem Church
The Palestine News Network (PNN) reported reported Monday evening that Israeli extremists hurled stones, Molotov cocktails and trash at a Christian Church in occupied Jerusalem. This is the third attack targeting against a Christian holy site in recent weeks.
Several Molotov cocktails and stones were thrown at the church, located near an illegal Jewish ultra-orthodox settlement.
The attack did not lead to injuries but damage was reported to the main gate of the church.
The Israeli Police said it is investigate the assault.
The latest attack only comes one week after Israeli extremists spray-painted racist graffiti in Hebrew on the Franciscan monastery in occupied Jerusalem.
The graffiti included slurs against Christians and against Jesus Christ.
Last Month, Israeli extremists Last month, extremist settlers burnt the main gate of the Latrun Christian Monastery west of Jerusalem, and also wrote racist graffiti against Jesus Christ and against Christianity.
Extremist settler groups are responsible for numerous racist attacks against the Palestinian people, their lands and their holy sites. Several mosques were torched, and several Christian and Islamic graveyards were desecrated.
Several Molotov cocktails and stones were thrown at the church, located near an illegal Jewish ultra-orthodox settlement.
The attack did not lead to injuries but damage was reported to the main gate of the church.
The Israeli Police said it is investigate the assault.
The latest attack only comes one week after Israeli extremists spray-painted racist graffiti in Hebrew on the Franciscan monastery in occupied Jerusalem.
The graffiti included slurs against Christians and against Jesus Christ.
Last Month, Israeli extremists Last month, extremist settlers burnt the main gate of the Latrun Christian Monastery west of Jerusalem, and also wrote racist graffiti against Jesus Christ and against Christianity.
Extremist settler groups are responsible for numerous racist attacks against the Palestinian people, their lands and their holy sites. Several mosques were torched, and several Christian and Islamic graveyards were desecrated.
4 oct 2012
Mario Nazal Momares Receives 2012 HCEF Award
Mario Nazal Momares is Co-founder and Director of Palestinian Foundation Bethlehem - Chile, the most important Chilean non profit organization created to help Palestinian children in the Holy Land, and a distinguished member of the Chilean business community.
HCEF commends Mr. Momares for his strong and consistent support of Palestinian Christians. His dedication and active commitment to bettering the lives of others is a true testament to his character and diligence in serving the needs of others.
Mr. Momares is a leader in fund-raising for projects in Palestine, with activities such as the traditional and annual dinner for the Arab community in Santiago; an annual fashion show. He has established a system of donors to provide health and education programs for the most needy. He works in partnership with the Palestine Children's Relief Fund, providing health support in two ways; sending Chilean volunteer medical missions for surgical work in Palestine, and receiving in Chilean homes Palestinian young people who need to receive medical care in Santiago. He also partners with Caritas-Jerusalem, in order to distribute scholarships for Palestinian children.
"Mr. Momares has devoted himself to the cultural and humanitarian task of working actively for the Palestinian cause. He endeavors to reach out to more than 350 Diaspora Palestinian Christians and to connect them with their roots! That is more Palestinian Christians than we have total in Jordan, Palestine & Israel! His efforts are is noble and remarkable," said Rateb Rabie, KCHS, HCEF President and CEO.
Mr. Momares is President of the Chilean Textile Industries and Counsellor of "Sociedad de Fomento Fabril", the most important Chilean industrial businessmen group in the country. He is also the founder of Al Damir, the only Chilean magazine directed towards the Arab community, entrepreneurs and business leaders.
The HCEF Award is given to an individual who has dedicated his or her life to preserving the presence of Christians in the Holy Land, and has demonstrated courage, determination, and action to advance the cause of justice, sustenance and spiritual support for the Palestinian Christians.
In honor of all he has done and continues to do in support of Palestinians at large and Holy Land Christians, the HCEF Award will be bestowed upon Mr. Mario Nazal Momares at the Annual Awards Banquet on Friday, November 9, 2012, at the Washington Marriott, Washington, DC. The Awards Banquet is held in conjunction with the 14th International Conference: 3rd Business, Investment & ICT Conference, which will be held on Saturday, November 10, 2012 at the National 4H Conference Center, in Chevy Chase, Maryland.
HCEF commends Mr. Momares for his strong and consistent support of Palestinian Christians. His dedication and active commitment to bettering the lives of others is a true testament to his character and diligence in serving the needs of others.
Mr. Momares is a leader in fund-raising for projects in Palestine, with activities such as the traditional and annual dinner for the Arab community in Santiago; an annual fashion show. He has established a system of donors to provide health and education programs for the most needy. He works in partnership with the Palestine Children's Relief Fund, providing health support in two ways; sending Chilean volunteer medical missions for surgical work in Palestine, and receiving in Chilean homes Palestinian young people who need to receive medical care in Santiago. He also partners with Caritas-Jerusalem, in order to distribute scholarships for Palestinian children.
"Mr. Momares has devoted himself to the cultural and humanitarian task of working actively for the Palestinian cause. He endeavors to reach out to more than 350 Diaspora Palestinian Christians and to connect them with their roots! That is more Palestinian Christians than we have total in Jordan, Palestine & Israel! His efforts are is noble and remarkable," said Rateb Rabie, KCHS, HCEF President and CEO.
Mr. Momares is President of the Chilean Textile Industries and Counsellor of "Sociedad de Fomento Fabril", the most important Chilean industrial businessmen group in the country. He is also the founder of Al Damir, the only Chilean magazine directed towards the Arab community, entrepreneurs and business leaders.
The HCEF Award is given to an individual who has dedicated his or her life to preserving the presence of Christians in the Holy Land, and has demonstrated courage, determination, and action to advance the cause of justice, sustenance and spiritual support for the Palestinian Christians.
In honor of all he has done and continues to do in support of Palestinians at large and Holy Land Christians, the HCEF Award will be bestowed upon Mr. Mario Nazal Momares at the Annual Awards Banquet on Friday, November 9, 2012, at the Washington Marriott, Washington, DC. The Awards Banquet is held in conjunction with the 14th International Conference: 3rd Business, Investment & ICT Conference, which will be held on Saturday, November 10, 2012 at the National 4H Conference Center, in Chevy Chase, Maryland.
3 oct 2012
New Racist Graffiti Found On Gate On Jerusalem Monastery
A number of extremist Israeli settlers spray-painted racist graffiti against Jesus Christ on the main gate of the Franciscan Monastery, located in Jerusalem. This is the second attack against a Christian Holy Site since last month.
The settlers wrote the graffiti during late night hours, and fled the scene before being noticed.
Senior officials of the Franciscan Monastery issued strong condemnations of the Israeli government of Benjamin Netanyahu, and described the Israeli attacks against Muslim and Christian holy sites as “ugly and disgusting”.
The monastery said that these attacks are a natural outcome of fundamentalist and hostile conducts and ideologies practiced by extremist right-wingers in Israel.
David Newhouse, of the Catholic Church in the Holy Land, stated that Israel is not acting against these racist attacks, and its educational system fails to educate the students against these types of fundamentalist and racist crimes.
The Israeli Radio reported that this is the first time ever that a senior official of the Catholic Church issuers such a sharp and direct criticism against the Jewish extremists, and against Israel.
The Franciscan Monastery also issued a strong condemnation of the attack, and said that Israel should not allow such racist attacks to be carried out, and must seriously act against these “rude attacks”, the Palestine News Network (PNN) reported.
It added that such racist violations do not only violate the rights of Christians living in the Holy Land, but also violate the rights and religious beliefs of millions of Christians around the world.
The Monastery called on Israel to act and said that the assailants must be apprehended, and Israel must start acting against Jewish fundamentalism and extremism, as this extremist harms the relations between different faiths.
The attack is part of the Price Tag attacks carried out by extremist Israeli settlers against the Palestinian people, Christian and Islamic holy sites in Jerusalem, and in different parts of Palestine.
Last month, extremist settlers burnt the main gate of the Latrun Monastery west of Jerusalem, and wrote racist graffiti against Jesus Christ and against Christianity.
Extremist settler groups are responsible for numerous racist attacks against the Palestinian people, their lands and their holy sites. Several mosques were torched, and several Christian and Islamic graveyards were desecrated.
Commenting on the most recent attack against the Latrun Monastery, head of the Negotiations Department of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), Dr. Saeb Erekat, said that these attacks are “manifestations of a culture of hatred and racism among Israelis, encouraged by 45 years on Israeli occupation”.
Dr. Erekat added that textbooks in Israel and official statements by its leaders are advocating that Jerusalem, the Holy City, should only be for the Jews, without any recognition of Islamic and Christian holy sites.
“Such statements and books have paved the way for extremists to conduct their crimes”, Dr. Erekat said, “Those gangs are attacking Islamic and Christian holy sites with impunity”.
Dr. Erekat stated that the International Community must assume its responsibilities and hold Israel accountable for its crimes and violations against the Palestinian people, and the holy sites.
It is worth mentioning that extremist Israeli settlers carried out more than 60 attacks during the past year, targeting both Islamic and Christian holy sites in occupied Palestine.
Palestinians condemn anti-Christian vandalism
The PLO's top negotiator and the Palestinian Authority on Tuesday strongly condemned racist and pro-settler vandalism on a Jerusalem monastery.
"Price-tag" and "Jesus is a son of a bitch" were sprayed on the gate of the Monastery of Saint Francis, just outside of the Old City, Israeli police and media reported Tuesday.
"After 45 years of Israeli occupation, a culture of hatred and racism has become mainstream among Israelis," PLO negotiator Saeb Erekat said in a statement.
Erekat called on the international community to "assume its duties and hold Israel accountable for its ongoing occupation and violations of international law."
He added: "This culture of impunity that some countries have granted to Israel has allowed settlers to escalate their racist attacks against Palestinians without any legal accountability."
The Palestinian Authority cabinet also strongly condemned the attack.
A statement from the cabinet in Ramallah said the PA strongly condemned the "settler attack against Mount Zion Convent where racist anti-Christ graffiti were spray painted at its walls."
The cabinet said the Israeli government was "fully responsible for the consequences" of the vandalism as well as a "raid" on the al-Aqsa Mosque in which Palestinians were attacked.
Israeli officials have condemned the vandalism at the monastery.
Israeli President Shimon Peres said "holy sites must not be harmed," a statement said.
In early September, suspected Jewish extremists torched the wooden door of a Jerusalem monastery and sprayed "Jesus is a monkey" and pro-settler graffiti on the walls.
In February, suspected Jewish extremists wrote "Death to Christianity" on two Jerusalem churches. The graffiti also included profanity about Jesus, and the vandals slashed the tires of several cars parked in one of the church compounds.
"Price tag" attacks have targeted mosques, Palestinian homes and Israeli military installations in the occupied West Bank.
An ancient mosque in Jerusalem was torched on Dec. 13, and sprayed with the Star of David, "price tag," "Muhammad is a pig" and "A good Arab is a dead Arab" in Hebrew.
The term "price tag" is used by Jewish settlers to describe a policy to attack Palestinians and their property in retaliation for perceived anti-settler actions by the Israeli government.
The settlers wrote the graffiti during late night hours, and fled the scene before being noticed.
Senior officials of the Franciscan Monastery issued strong condemnations of the Israeli government of Benjamin Netanyahu, and described the Israeli attacks against Muslim and Christian holy sites as “ugly and disgusting”.
The monastery said that these attacks are a natural outcome of fundamentalist and hostile conducts and ideologies practiced by extremist right-wingers in Israel.
David Newhouse, of the Catholic Church in the Holy Land, stated that Israel is not acting against these racist attacks, and its educational system fails to educate the students against these types of fundamentalist and racist crimes.
The Israeli Radio reported that this is the first time ever that a senior official of the Catholic Church issuers such a sharp and direct criticism against the Jewish extremists, and against Israel.
The Franciscan Monastery also issued a strong condemnation of the attack, and said that Israel should not allow such racist attacks to be carried out, and must seriously act against these “rude attacks”, the Palestine News Network (PNN) reported.
It added that such racist violations do not only violate the rights of Christians living in the Holy Land, but also violate the rights and religious beliefs of millions of Christians around the world.
The Monastery called on Israel to act and said that the assailants must be apprehended, and Israel must start acting against Jewish fundamentalism and extremism, as this extremist harms the relations between different faiths.
The attack is part of the Price Tag attacks carried out by extremist Israeli settlers against the Palestinian people, Christian and Islamic holy sites in Jerusalem, and in different parts of Palestine.
Last month, extremist settlers burnt the main gate of the Latrun Monastery west of Jerusalem, and wrote racist graffiti against Jesus Christ and against Christianity.
Extremist settler groups are responsible for numerous racist attacks against the Palestinian people, their lands and their holy sites. Several mosques were torched, and several Christian and Islamic graveyards were desecrated.
Commenting on the most recent attack against the Latrun Monastery, head of the Negotiations Department of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), Dr. Saeb Erekat, said that these attacks are “manifestations of a culture of hatred and racism among Israelis, encouraged by 45 years on Israeli occupation”.
Dr. Erekat added that textbooks in Israel and official statements by its leaders are advocating that Jerusalem, the Holy City, should only be for the Jews, without any recognition of Islamic and Christian holy sites.
“Such statements and books have paved the way for extremists to conduct their crimes”, Dr. Erekat said, “Those gangs are attacking Islamic and Christian holy sites with impunity”.
Dr. Erekat stated that the International Community must assume its responsibilities and hold Israel accountable for its crimes and violations against the Palestinian people, and the holy sites.
It is worth mentioning that extremist Israeli settlers carried out more than 60 attacks during the past year, targeting both Islamic and Christian holy sites in occupied Palestine.
Palestinians condemn anti-Christian vandalism
The PLO's top negotiator and the Palestinian Authority on Tuesday strongly condemned racist and pro-settler vandalism on a Jerusalem monastery.
"Price-tag" and "Jesus is a son of a bitch" were sprayed on the gate of the Monastery of Saint Francis, just outside of the Old City, Israeli police and media reported Tuesday.
"After 45 years of Israeli occupation, a culture of hatred and racism has become mainstream among Israelis," PLO negotiator Saeb Erekat said in a statement.
Erekat called on the international community to "assume its duties and hold Israel accountable for its ongoing occupation and violations of international law."
He added: "This culture of impunity that some countries have granted to Israel has allowed settlers to escalate their racist attacks against Palestinians without any legal accountability."
The Palestinian Authority cabinet also strongly condemned the attack.
A statement from the cabinet in Ramallah said the PA strongly condemned the "settler attack against Mount Zion Convent where racist anti-Christ graffiti were spray painted at its walls."
The cabinet said the Israeli government was "fully responsible for the consequences" of the vandalism as well as a "raid" on the al-Aqsa Mosque in which Palestinians were attacked.
Israeli officials have condemned the vandalism at the monastery.
Israeli President Shimon Peres said "holy sites must not be harmed," a statement said.
In early September, suspected Jewish extremists torched the wooden door of a Jerusalem monastery and sprayed "Jesus is a monkey" and pro-settler graffiti on the walls.
In February, suspected Jewish extremists wrote "Death to Christianity" on two Jerusalem churches. The graffiti also included profanity about Jesus, and the vandals slashed the tires of several cars parked in one of the church compounds.
"Price tag" attacks have targeted mosques, Palestinian homes and Israeli military installations in the occupied West Bank.
An ancient mosque in Jerusalem was torched on Dec. 13, and sprayed with the Star of David, "price tag," "Muhammad is a pig" and "A good Arab is a dead Arab" in Hebrew.
The term "price tag" is used by Jewish settlers to describe a policy to attack Palestinians and their property in retaliation for perceived anti-settler actions by the Israeli government.
16 sept 2012
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CIA Mormons, Zionists behind anti-Islam film: Analyst
A prominent political analyst says that several groups including American Mormons in the CIA and Zionists are behind the controversial recent anti-Islam film made in the US, Press TV reports. “I would identify two or perhaps three components, the first is a Mormon mafia inside the CIA, the group of Mormon high officials of the CIA who want Romney to become president and they think that by having the kinds of events that we are seeing, they can make Obama look bad in front of the American public,” Dr. Webster Griffin Tarpley told Press TV during an interview on Saturday. According to Tarpley, the group follows Brent Scowcroft, who used to be “the right hand man of Henry Kissinger”. The analyst said that the second component consists of Israeli Prime Minister |
Benjamin Netanyahu, the Likud party and "a group of neocons who have attached themselves to the Romney campaign”.
“I would add probably the Saudis, probably the Saudi religious and monarchy, hierarchy,” he added.
He further pointed to ties between “Sam Bacil or Nakula Basseley Nakula”, the man claiming responsibility for the blasphemous movie and Media for Christ's Joseph Nasrallah, a Coptic Christian from Egypt.
Dr. Tarpley also mentioned a series of figures including anti-Islam movie promoter Steve Klein, "Terry Jones, the infamous Qur'an burner", Pamela Geller, and Daniel Pipes, accusing them of promoting Islamophobia and unrest in the world by supporting such films.
"Pamela Geller, I think may be the key to this entire thing; she is a professional Islamophobe very close to the Israelis and probably somewhere in the background we might have somebody like Daniel Pipes, a professor who basically has made a career out of harassing four Palestinian professors at American universities."
Anti-Islam movie criminal filmmaker misled cast: Pastor
“I would add probably the Saudis, probably the Saudi religious and monarchy, hierarchy,” he added.
He further pointed to ties between “Sam Bacil or Nakula Basseley Nakula”, the man claiming responsibility for the blasphemous movie and Media for Christ's Joseph Nasrallah, a Coptic Christian from Egypt.
Dr. Tarpley also mentioned a series of figures including anti-Islam movie promoter Steve Klein, "Terry Jones, the infamous Qur'an burner", Pamela Geller, and Daniel Pipes, accusing them of promoting Islamophobia and unrest in the world by supporting such films.
"Pamela Geller, I think may be the key to this entire thing; she is a professional Islamophobe very close to the Israelis and probably somewhere in the background we might have somebody like Daniel Pipes, a professor who basically has made a career out of harassing four Palestinian professors at American universities."
Anti-Islam movie criminal filmmaker misled cast: Pastor
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A political analyst says that the controversial anti-Islam film was made by a man with a criminal record who “grossly” deceived the blasphemous movie’s cast, Press TV reports.
“The entire cast and crew who made the film have repudiated it. They have said that they were grossly misled by its intent and purpose. Their words in the film were overdubbed with new statements.” Pastor Stephen Sizer told Press TV during an interview on Sunday. The pastor condemned the film’s intent saying it aimed at inciting violence. “First of all let me say that the Christian community completely denounces the practice of insulting and slandering adherence of other religions or their founders.” Sizer said that Nakula Basseley Nakula or Sam Bacile, already “a convicted felon” faces “further convictions in the United States” for the way he made the film. |
According to Sizer, before making headlines in the media, the controversial clip went on YouTube instead of being shown on the television or in the cinemas. It was then “exploited by eccentric extremist religious leader Terry Jones”.
The analyst went on to say that the film was then “picked up by a religious leader in Egypt who showed samples of the video on his program and clearly upset people in Egypt who had never even heard of the film.”
He added that the violence, misunderstanding, and hatred resulting from the film is repudiated in Islam, Judaism, and Christianity.
The film's supposed writer and director, a man calling himself Sam Bacile, has said the movie was meant to be a provocative political statement in condemnation of Islam.
The movie’s trailer has caused outrage in many countries across the world.
Resheq: Clinton's disapproval of the movie is not enough
Member of Hamas's political bureau Ezzat Al-Resheq said the condemnation remarks made by US secretary of state Hillary Clinton against the anti-Islam movie were not enough.
In a press release, Resheq denounced the US attempts to use freedom of opinion to justify such blasphemy against the most sacred figure in Islam and to enable the perpetrator to go unpunished and without accountability.
He stressed that the movie was aimed at provoking and incurring the wrath of Muslims.
"It is not something strange that this movie was released concurrently with the anniversary of September 11th events in order to increase the ignorance of the American people about the truth of Islam and its noble message," the Hamas official underlined.
The official called on the organization of Islamic cooperation and the Arab League to take firm positions in defense of the Prophet of Islam and against this blasphemy.
Pope urges Christians to be peacemakers in Middle East
Pope Benedict on Sunday urged Christians of the Middle East to work for peace to counter "the grim trail of death and destruction" in the world, in a sermon delivered in Lebanon as civil war raged in neighboring Syria.
Benedict was speaking at an open-air mass on Beirut's Mediterranean seafront attended by 350,000 worshipers and leaders of Lebanon's Christian and Muslim communities.
Peace between warring factions and among the many religious groups in the Middle East has been a central theme of his visit to Lebanon, along with his call to Christians not to leave the region despite war and growing pressure from radical Islamists.
Activists say more than 27,000 people have been killed in Syria's 18-month-old mainly Sunni Muslim uprising against President Bashar Assad.
Few Christians, who form about 10 percent of Syria's population, have joined the uprising against Assad, fearing it could bring hostile Islamists to power in Damascus.
Benedict appealed on Friday for an end to the import of weapons into Syria, branding it a "grave sin" and saying a halt to the arms flow could help end the civil war.
"In a world where violence constantly leaves behind its grim trail of death and destruction, to serve justice and peace is urgently necessary," Benedict said at the mass, praying for "Middle East servants of peace and reconciliation".
The analyst went on to say that the film was then “picked up by a religious leader in Egypt who showed samples of the video on his program and clearly upset people in Egypt who had never even heard of the film.”
He added that the violence, misunderstanding, and hatred resulting from the film is repudiated in Islam, Judaism, and Christianity.
The film's supposed writer and director, a man calling himself Sam Bacile, has said the movie was meant to be a provocative political statement in condemnation of Islam.
The movie’s trailer has caused outrage in many countries across the world.
Resheq: Clinton's disapproval of the movie is not enough
Member of Hamas's political bureau Ezzat Al-Resheq said the condemnation remarks made by US secretary of state Hillary Clinton against the anti-Islam movie were not enough.
In a press release, Resheq denounced the US attempts to use freedom of opinion to justify such blasphemy against the most sacred figure in Islam and to enable the perpetrator to go unpunished and without accountability.
He stressed that the movie was aimed at provoking and incurring the wrath of Muslims.
"It is not something strange that this movie was released concurrently with the anniversary of September 11th events in order to increase the ignorance of the American people about the truth of Islam and its noble message," the Hamas official underlined.
The official called on the organization of Islamic cooperation and the Arab League to take firm positions in defense of the Prophet of Islam and against this blasphemy.
Pope urges Christians to be peacemakers in Middle East
Pope Benedict on Sunday urged Christians of the Middle East to work for peace to counter "the grim trail of death and destruction" in the world, in a sermon delivered in Lebanon as civil war raged in neighboring Syria.
Benedict was speaking at an open-air mass on Beirut's Mediterranean seafront attended by 350,000 worshipers and leaders of Lebanon's Christian and Muslim communities.
Peace between warring factions and among the many religious groups in the Middle East has been a central theme of his visit to Lebanon, along with his call to Christians not to leave the region despite war and growing pressure from radical Islamists.
Activists say more than 27,000 people have been killed in Syria's 18-month-old mainly Sunni Muslim uprising against President Bashar Assad.
Few Christians, who form about 10 percent of Syria's population, have joined the uprising against Assad, fearing it could bring hostile Islamists to power in Damascus.
Benedict appealed on Friday for an end to the import of weapons into Syria, branding it a "grave sin" and saying a halt to the arms flow could help end the civil war.
"In a world where violence constantly leaves behind its grim trail of death and destruction, to serve justice and peace is urgently necessary," Benedict said at the mass, praying for "Middle East servants of peace and reconciliation".