Fourteen years have passed since the start of the Syrian civil war and just over three months since the fall of the regime of Bashar al-Assad.

“We could summarize the climate in Syria today with the word uncertainty,” says Fra Bahjat Karakach, the Latin Parish priest of Aleppo. “The fall of the regime does not automatically mean a good situation. We are going through a very difficult phase: the old certainties are no longer there and we do not know what the future will be like. We need to encourage people and bring them a message of hope.”

The country has been overwhelmed by a wave of violence since 6 March, with clashes between groups faithful to Assad (Alawites) and the security forces of the new government, with over 1,300 victims.

“These clashes are a disgrace,” says Fra Hanna Jallouf, apostolic vicar of Aleppo of the Latins. “Fortunately our friars and our Christians, both in Damascus and Aleppo and in the villages, but also in Latakia are safe. In this situation, we have been put back in front of our mission as pacifiers.”

“The first reaction in the face of difficulties is to flee” and this is also true for Christians,” says Fra Bahjat. “Emigration did not stop after the fall of the regime. We will need to see concrete steps of development, but until now everything is the contrary: the market is at a standstill and many people are continuing to lose their jobs…”

In these three months, the heads of the Churches have been involved in the discussions on the new Constitution: “We took part in a national congress where we discussed the Constitution and the future of Syria. The Christian delegation was large and we were able to illustrate our vision,” Bishop Jallouf said. 

“We immediately offered the new rulers our collaboration, to ensure peace and safety for the population and the stabilization of the country. At the same time, we are inciting our young people to join in political and social life to be ‘the light of the world and the salt of the earth.’ This is our job, to give flavour to life in Syria.”

In today’s scenario, according to Fra Bahjat, the Christian community’s contribution is first and foremost that of being a “bridge of peace.”  “The Christian community has not made violence a means to reach its aims, which is why it enjoys good credit with the Syrians. This helps us to be a bridge of peace and dialogue between the different factions. We have to invest in this and put all our strength into this work of mediation and of peace in the midst of the Syrian people.”

On 13 March, the President Ahmed al-Sharaa (Al-Jolani), formerly the leader of the Islamist faction Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), signed a provisional Constitution valid for five years. The text guarantees freedom of opinion and expression, as well as freedom of worship. However, Islamic law remains the main source of legislation.

Fra Bahjat scales down the concerns that have arisen on this  topic, including among Christians: “In Syria it has always been like that, I would not give it much importance in itself. The problem is how certain expressions are interpreted and implemented.” 

“As Franciscans,” he explains, “we asked for a law that punishes all incitement to hatred and discrimination, based on the seventh point of the provisional Constitution.  There is matter to work on in a positive sense, to build up a society that is truly tolerant and open to everyone.”

As for the real possibility of evangelizing, the Franciscan parish priest has no doubts: “We have to be creative, move away from the strict ways of evangelization and find new ways. As St Francis taught us, evangelizing means above all living the Gospel and being a sign for  all those around us.”