Free Abuna Paolo!
Kidnapped in Syria one year ago
One year ago, on 29 July 2013, our dear friend and mentor Father Paolo Dall’Oglio SJ disappeared in Raqqa, Syria. He went on his own and with his free will to the capital of the freshly proclaimed “Islamic State in Iraq and Syria” for negotiating the release of hostages taken by this extremist group and for building peace. We phoned right before his arrival and talked about the danger. He was perfectly aware of it, but he had to go. Having dedicated his life to Syria and to the love of Islam, he could not turn his back to this darkest hour in Syria’s modern history. We have no news since he entered the base of the ISIS fighters. Many rumours are circulating, but there is no formal proof either for his survival nor for this death. We all hope he is still alive and we join the call of his family upon his kidnappers to give answers.
The summer volunteers at our Peace Centre in Akkar (North Lebanon) started a novene ahead of 29 July. We are praying and fasting for nine days in solidarity with the Syrian people and with Abuna Paolo. Christians and volunteers of other convictions joined their Muslim friends in the Ramadan fast. Every day, we work to bring Syrian refugee kids back to school. Every night, we meet on our roof top for a moment of silence, inspired by a text alternating between Muslim, Christian and non-confessional source. At our Peace Centre, Sunnis, Shiites, Alawites, Catholics, Orthodox, Protestants, Agnostics and Atheists from Syria, Lebanon and around the world are living and working under one roof. Despite all differences, we are united around a common cause: solidarity with those affected by the Syrian crisis.
For most of our founding members, Abuna Paolo has been a friend and a source of inspiration. He was the one who validated our young project when it was only an idea and he considered himself a founding member and mentor of R&R Syria even though he did not legally represent us. One year after his disappearance, R&R members and friends of Father Paolo will gather around the world for expressing their solidarity with him and with all those detained in Syria. Please visit our Facebook page for more information on 29 July events around the world!