The Prefect Cardinal Michael Czerny’s Visit to Syria
20.09.2024 / 12:20
The Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, Cardinal Michael Czerny, traveled to Syria beginning September 2024 to see first-hand the harsh humanitarian crisis that has been affecting the country for years and to listen to those who are committed to helping the victims of this crisis, particularly in the areas of health, livelihoods, and recovery from the devastating 2023 earthquake.
The Prefect Cardinal Michael Czerný was born on July 18, 1946 in Brno. His parents were Catholics of German nationality, however, because of their Jewish ancestors, they were imprisoned in Terezín and other concentration camps during World War II. After the communist coup in 1948, the whole family left Czechoslovakia and emigrated to Canada. There, Michael Czerny entered the Jesuit order in 1963 at the age of 17. He has been a cardinal for more than 5 years now, and from 2022 he is the prefect of the dicastery for the support of integral human development, which in the Vatican is similar to the function of a minister. Its cardinal sign is a boat with four people, which evokes the family's escape across the ocean from unfreedom.
In Syria, Prefect Czerny met with the Syrian bishops and with the Patriarch of the Syrian Catholic Church, Ignác Joseph III. By Younam. A meeting with representatives of other churches and religions was also organized at the Vatican Nunciature in Damascus.
During his mission, the Prefect, accompanied by the Apostolic Nuncio Cardinal Mario Zenari and the Regional Coordinator of the Dicastery for the Middle East Mrs. Pascale Debbane, met with representatives of Catholic Charity and several other Syrian charitable organizations.
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Prefect Michael Czerny visited the Beit Alberto cultural and educational center in the Jaramana neighborhood on the outskirts of Damascus, which is run by the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS). He also found time to meet with several internally displaced families.
He also met with representatives of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Damascus.
Cardinal Michael Czerny also visited the Christian community center in Kaškul, a suburb of Damascus, where he had the opportunity to familiarize himself with the food distribution system for needy families.
In Damascus, Cardinal Czerny also visited the French Hospital and the Italian Hospital, where the Czech Republic has also had its humanitarian projects in recent years. These hospitals are part of the AVSI Foundation's "Open Hospitals" humanitarian project, which offers medical assistance to those in need.
The cardinal prayed before the remains of the "Damascus Martyrs" killed in 1860, who will be canonized on October 20, 2024 in Rome. There was also a visit to the Melchite Cathedral, the House of St. Ananias or the Memorial of St. Paul.
The Prefect Cardinal Michael Czerny also met with representatives of the local diplomatic corps, including diplomats from the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Damascus.