During a ceremonial Mass at the Olive Church in Damascus—attended by representatives of all Christian denominations, as well as official European delegates and international religious figures—several young Christians raised banners that sincerely reflected the sentiments of the majority of Syrian Christians. The occasion marked the conclusion of the service of the Apostolic Nuncio to Syria, His Eminence Cardinal Mario Zenari.
The banners bore messages such as: “Christians are being killed slowly—save us.”

These placards, held by Christian youth, recorded—and continue to record—their cries, expressing the views and feelings of Christian youth in Syria today regarding their future amid suffocating economic conditions. They were addressed as a message to the Ambassador prior to his return to the Vatican in Rome. Among the messages was the phrase “We are not victims,” expressing rejection of what the Christian community has endured—and continues to endure—over nearly the past year. Other demands included “We want a life in safety” and “Open the door to migration.”

These demands and reactions followed a series of violations and massacres against the Christian community after the de facto authority assumed control. Most notably, Maaloula—one of the last villages where Aramaic, the language of Jesus Christ, is spoken—witnessed a dramatic decline in population from around 1,000 to fewer than 70 within the first two weeks of the de facto authority’s takeover. What, then, of today?
Christians’ anxiety continues to grow day by day amid the persistent influence of Jabhat al-Nusra, al-Qaeda, and ISIS, particularly given the presence of the so-called unelected “President of Syria,” Abu Mohammad al-Jolani (Ahmad al-Sharaa)—the former founder of Jabhat al-Nusra / Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham—an outgrowth of ISIS and al-Qaeda. These groups previously stormed Maaloula and Saidnaya, abducted nuns in 2013, and displaced Christians from Idlib and other Syrian regions due to violence, forced displacement, and other acts carried out under the banner of sectarian cleansing.

This also includes assaults on Christian symbols; the bombing of St. Elias Church, which killed dozens and left many injured who continue to suffer to this day; the vandalism, destruction, and desecration of graves; multiple attempts to bomb churches; and documented cases of churches being burned and destroyed across Syria—particularly in Suwayda and Christian communities. At least seven churches were burned and vandalized in Suwayda alone, including in the villages of Al-Soura Al-Kabira, Rdeimet al-Liwa, Ta’ara, and Al-Dweira. There have also been numerous cases of forced abduction, violations of the sanctity of homes, armed looting of Christian property, and the seizure of lands and houses.

Moreover, during the coastal and Suwayda massacres, there were cases of killing, mass field executions, rape, and the enslavement of women on a sectarian basis—alongside the theft of antiquities and religious historical sculptures. Most recently, the statue of Saint Paul was stolen from the Bab Sharqi area in December of last year. This statue holds profound religious symbolism, representing Saint Paul, and was a gift from Pope John Paul II to the Church of Damascus.
Additionally, Wadi al-Nasara in the Homs countryside witnessed multiple crimes, including killings, intimidation of residents, theft, fraud, and the deliberate burning of forests and agricultural lands.

Added to this is the severe economic hardship resulting from mass dismissals from employment (arbitrary termination) on a sectarian basis, unemployment, and financial distress that obstruct the building of a future—conditions affecting Syrian youth in general, who are desperately seeking viable exits.

This is compounded by the absence of genuine, transparent dialogue with the faithful to identify solutions and clarify a future vision for Christians as equal partners in building the state—especially for the youth—who demand their right to life and security, and representation that truly voices their views. Many find themselves at constant risk of theft, bombing, killing, and other grave security threats across most areas of Syria under the rule of the terrorist de facto authority, whose repercussions also weigh heavily on other components of Syrian society.

The question remains: Will we witness genuine action to listen and begin fulfilling the demands of the Christian street in Syria, or will this become merely a falling leaf swept away as storms intensify—storms against which meteorological agencies already warn?