President Bashar al-Assad received a letter from Pope Francis who expressed his heartfelt sympathy for Syria and its people in light of the difficult circumstances the country is going through.

The letter was delivered by Apostolic Nuncio to Syria, Cardinal Mario Zenari, who was received by the President on Monday, SANA news agency reported.

The pope asserted Vatican’s condemnation of all forms of extremism and terrorism, the letter read.

The Pope called in his letter for uniting all efforts to put an end to the war in Syria and restore peace in it so that it can remain a model for coexistence among cultures and religions as it always has been, SANA added.

For his part, President Assad asserted that Syria, as a state and as a people, is determined to restore security and stability and is continuing to achieve reconciliations, as they are the optimal way for achieving that goal.

Source: SANA