Franciscan monastery in Aleppo attacked; friars call for peace

On Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, the Franciscan complex of the Terra Santa College in Aleppo was hit by a strike. No casualties were reported but panic has reportedly spread among the people. / Credit: Custody of the Holy Land

ACI MENA, Dec 3, 2024 / 14:45 pm (CNA).

The city of Aleppo, Syria, has been under intense siege since Dec. 1, marked by the shelling of the Latin Holy Land monastery in the Al-Furqan neighborhood. While no casualties or injuries were reported, the attack caused extensive damage to the building.

A statement released by the Franciscan order revealed that a missile strike from a warplane hit the monastery, destroying one of its wings and setting its storage facility ablaze. Other areas, such as the sports center and chapel, also suffered significant damage.

The friars expressed in their statement that they categorically reject any form of violence, emphasizing their mission as one of peace and reconciliation wherever they are sent by God. They called on the international community to intervene and do everything in its power to protect the city’s infrastructure from further destruction.

Despite the attack, the monastery’s bakery and charity kitchen resumed operations the following day, preparing over 1,000 hot meals for free distribution, primarily to elderly residents. However, due to the scarcity of fuel and limited transportation, the church requested that recipients send representatives to collect the meals.

The Holy Land Monastery, built in the 1940s, originally housed a prestigious school, which, like many other Christian institutions, was seized by the Syrian government two decades later. In 2020, the expansive school grounds were returned to the Church. Until last Friday, under the leadership of Franciscan Father Samher Ishaq, the monastery was providing development services to the local community alongside its ongoing relief efforts.

Meanwhile, Aleppo has witnessed internal displacement within the city itself. Many Christians have fled homes near the Kurdish-controlled area, which still maintains a foothold in a small section of the city, seeking refuge with relatives in safer locations.

The proximity of Kurdish forces to Christian cemeteries has created additional challenges for burying the dead. Fear of jihadist factions reaching their positions has prompted Kurdish fighters to enforce strict measures, with reports circulating of a sniper targeting anyone attempting to approach the cemeteries.

The city also grapples with severe shortages of food supplies and an almost complete blackout of mobile communication networks. Landlines and internet routers remain the only reliable means of communication.

This story was first published by ACI MENA, CNA’s Arabic-language news partner, and has been translated and adapted by CNA.