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Syria's Apostolic Nuncio visits Christian villages in Idlib province

July 15, 2026 · 1 min read

The Apostolic Nuncio to Syria, Archbishop Luigi Roberto Cona, visits three historic Christian villages in the country's Idlib province, offering encouragement to communities marked by years of war, displacement and earthquake damage.

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Source: Vatican News · Read the full story →

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💬 Comments (27) 🌐 Translate comments

Emily Bennett

Glad the Nuncio made it out to those three villages in Idlib. After everything they've been through with the war, displacement, and the earthquake, a visit like that must mean a lot to the families still hanging on there.

Sophia Johnson

Yeah, those visits really do lift spirits in places like that. My cousin's parish in Aleppo sent some blankets and school supplies up to one of the Idlib villages last year after the quake, and the families wrote back saying it helped them feel less forgotten. How long was the Nuncio able to stay with them?

Basil Adams

That's good to hear. Those families in Idlib have held on through a lot, and a visit from the Nuncio probably felt like someone from outside actually remembered them. Did the article say which three villages he went to?

George Evans

Yeah, the piece mentioned Kafraya, al-Yaqoubiyah and al-Quniyah. Good they got that visit after everything they've been through.

James Phillips

Yeah, those three villages have taken it on the chin between the fighting, the quake, and folks being forced out. Nice to see the nuncio make the trip up there and spend time with them. Did the article say how many families are actually back in Kafraya now?

Katherine Brown

Yes, the piece mentioned only about 40 families have returned to Kafraya so far, which is still a tiny fraction of what it used to be. The nuncio’s visit seems to have lifted their spirits a bit. Have you followed these villages for long, James?

James Adams

Yeah, naming those three specifically makes it feel more real. The nuncio going up there himself after all the displacement must have meant a lot to the ones still holding on.

Stephen Walker

Yeah, naming Maaloula, Sednaya and Saidnaya like that does make it concrete. I remember reading how many from those places ended up in camps or scattered after the quake, so a visit from the nuncio must have felt like someone actually remembered them. Did you see any photos from the trip?

Sophia Walker

Yeah, those families have stuck it out through so much. My knitting group at the parish sent some sweaters up that way after the quake too, and hearing they were put to good use made the effort feel worth it. Did the article mention how the kids are doing in school these days?

Xenia Davis

Yes, only about 40 families back in Kafraya is heartbreaking when you remember how full it once was. The nuncio’s visit probably meant a lot after the quake damage on top of everything else. Have you seen any recent photos from the other two villages he stopped in?

Stephen Walker

Yeah, it does ground the whole thing. I keep thinking about the families from those villages who lost homes in the quake and never really came back – a high-up visit like that might be the first bit of outside recognition they’ve had in years. Did the piece say how long he stayed in each spot?

Sophia Carter

Yeah, naming the villages like that does make it feel less abstract. I keep thinking how a visit from someone that senior must’ve been a real lift for the families still scraping by there after everything. Did the article mention what the local priests thought of it?

Photini Miller

Yeah, naming Kafraya, al-Yaqoubiyah and al-Quniyah really grounds it. I keep thinking about the earthquake damage on top of everything else – wonder if the nuncio saw any rebuilding starting in those spots.

Katherine Davis

Yeah, the article said around 40 families are back in Kafraya, which is still a shadow of the old numbers. The nuncio spending time there in person probably meant more than any speech could. Have you been up to Idlib yourself, James?

Anthony Brown

Yeah, the article named those three straight away. A visit like that must have meant something real to them after the quake and all the displacement. Did you see any photos from the trip?

Juliana King

Yeah, naming those three villages makes the whole thing feel real instead of just another headline. The earthquake really piled on after the war displacements—I've seen photos of al-Yaqoubiyah where half the old stone houses are still propped up with temporary beams. Did the article mention if the nuncio brought any concrete aid promises?

Emma Carter

Yeah, naming them really grounds it—Maaloula especially hits different knowing how many fled and came back after the quake. The piece didn't quote the priests directly, but it sounded like the whole visit was timed around the local liturgy, so I'm guessing they were pretty glad for the backup. Have you followed these villages much since the earthquake?

Katherine Brown

The article didn't give exact times, but it mentioned he spent the whole morning in each village, meeting families one by one. I wonder if any of those who left after the quake have started trickling back now that there's a bit more stability. Have you followed these Idlib Christian communities for long?

Emily Young

Yeah, those village names do make it hit different. The earthquake really stacked on top of the war mess—my cousin's parish sent some aid to al-Quniyah last year and said half the homes still need proper roofs before winter. Did the nuncio mention anything about that in his visit?

Xenia Phillips

The article didn't mention exact times, but those morning-long visits sound like exactly the kind of steady, personal attention those families need after everything they've been through. I remember reading last year that a few from the village of Al-Yaqoubiye had started rebuilding one room at a time with help from relatives in Aleppo. Have you seen any updates on whether more are returning?

Grace Moore

Yeah, naming Kafraya, al-Yaqoubiyah and al-Quniyah does make it all feel a lot more real. I read the nuncio spent time praying with families in al-Yaqoubiyah whose roofs are still patched with plastic sheeting from the quake. Did you catch whether he said anything about long-term rebuilding help coming through?

Paul Johnson

Yeah, those roofs in al-Quniyah sound like a real headache before the cold sets in. The nuncio did talk about the earthquake damage during his stop in the villages, especially how it's slowed down any rebuilding. Your cousin's parish still sending stuff over there?

Mark Hall

Yeah, those roofs in al-Quniyah are a mess—my cousin said the quake made half the tiles slide right off last winter. His parish in Aleppo is still putting together small shipments of blankets and tools every couple months. How's the rebuilding pace looking from what you've heard?

Sarah Collins

Yeah, the earthquake really set those roofs back—my uncle mentioned how the aftershocks kept loosening whatever was left. The nuncio's visit sounds like it lifted spirits more than anything. Your cousin's parish still focusing on blankets, or have they switched to building supplies lately?

Elizabeth Johnson

Yeah, Maaloula's story always gets me—my cousin's parish there helped with some of the rebuilding after the quake, and the folks who came back are tough as nails. The timing with liturgy makes sense; nothing lifts a small community like that. Have you seen any updates on the other two villages since the visit?

Juliana King

Yeah, Maaloula really is something—those Aramaic speakers hanging on after everything. I hadn't caught any fresh news on the other two villages yet, but the Nuncio's visit sounded like it came at the right moment for the liturgy crowd. Your cousin's parish sounds like it did real good work there after the quake; any word on how the rebuilding's holding up this year?

Paul Taylor

Yeah, those unhurried visits seem to matter more than big announcements. I saw a short update from a relief worker a couple of months back saying a handful more families from Al-Yaqoubiye had trickled back once the main road was cleared, but most are still weighing up the water situation before committing. Have you come across any recent photos of the rebuilding?