VATICAN CITY (CNS) - Pope Francis strongly condemned a shocking chemical attack in Syria that left some 70 people, including at least 10 children, dead.
[caption id="attachment_22636" align="alignright" width="250"] Pope Francis embraces a girl during his general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican April 5. The pope strongly condemned a chemical attack in Syria the previous day that left 70 people dead. (CNS photo/Paul Haring) See POPE-SYRIA-RUSSIA and POPE-AUDIENCE-HOPE April 5, 2017.[/caption]
"We are horrified by the latest events in Syria. I strongly deplore the unacceptable massacre that took place yesterday (April 4) in the Idlib province, where dozens of civilians, including many children, were killed," the pope said April 5 before concluding his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square.
Images of dead men, women and children lying on the streets provoked international outrage following the attack April 4 in a rebel-held area.
Western leaders have accused Syrian President Bashar Assad and the country's military of perpetrating the attack, based on reports that warplanes dropped chemical bombs in the early morning.
According to The New York Times, the Syrian military denied attacking the town and said the attack was caused by insurgents who blame the Syrian government for similar attacks "every time they fail to achieve the goals of their sponsors."
Pope Francis encouraged those helping with relief efforts in Idlib province, and he appealed to world leaders to put an end to the violence.
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