Pope Francis drew attention to the dramatic sociopolitical, economic and humanitarian crises in Syria, Lebanon and Yemen on June 28 when he greeted hundreds of pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square. He began by drawing attention to the Fourth Conference of the European Union and the United Nations on “Supporting the future of Syria and the region” that will take place (virtually) next Tuesday, June 30. He invited people “to pray for this important meeting, so that it may improve the dramatic situation of the Syrian people and neighboring peoples, particularly Lebanon, in the context of serious sociopolitical and economic crises that have been made even more difficult by the [Covid-19] pandemic.” He highlighted the fact that in Syria particularly, but also in Lebanon, “there are small children who are hungry, who do not have anything to eat.” He prayed that the leaders of these countries “may be capable of making peace.” https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2020/06/28/pope-francis-draws-worlds-attention-humanitarian-crises-syria-lebanon-and-yemen