(ANS - Aleppo) – There was the risk of a massacre on Sunday 25 October in the church of St Francis in the Azizieh district in Aleppo. A gas cylinder was thrown at the dome of the church while Mass was being celebrated. Providentially the tank did not explode immediately, but only a few seconds later while it was already rolling down the roof.

"If it had pierced the dome there could have been a tragedy. If the chandelier had fallen it could have killed ten people. As I told the congregation, it is the mantle of Our Lady that saved us" said Fr Ibrahim Alsabagh, a Franciscan from the Custody of the Holy Land, speaking to Aid for the Church in Need.

The incident occurred during evening Mass at 5.00 p.m. "At that moment I was going to administer Communion to the congregation. Suddenly everything started shaking and debris began to fall in the church. There was so much dust that we could not see each other" he added.

Six people were slightly injured in the attack while the structure was seriously damaged and part of the roof will probably have to be rebuilt.

It is not the first time that the church has been attacked. Aleppo is one of the main theatres of conflict in the bloody war that has lasted more than four years. "It is certainly not a coincidence that the attack occurred when there were 400 people in the Church. Some people want to eliminate any sign of reconciliation and openness" said Father Alsabagh who is strongly committed to promoting interreligious dialogue.

Despite the fear, the Sunday mass was completed in the church garden and yesterday morning the faithful returned for the morning mass. "Many people came and we were happy to hear the sound of our bells again" he concluded.

Published 27/10/2015