Pope Francis appeals for urgent truce in Syria’s Aleppo

Pope Francis is calling for an urgent ceasefire in Syria to evacuate civilians from what he called an “inhuman” assault on the besieged rebel-held part of the city of Aleppo.

Pope Francis is calling for an urgent ceasefire in Syria to evacuate civilians from what he called an “inhuman” assault on the besieged rebel-held part of the city of Aleppo.

Pope Francis waves at the end of his weekly audience at the Vatican. (Reuters)

Francis says he is particularly concerned about children “trapped under the cruel bombardments,” which yesterday left at least 25 people dead, five of them children.

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During his general audience today, Francis says it’s “with a sense of urgency that I renew my appeal: I’m begging with all my strength for those responsible to undertake an immediate cease-fire that is respected at least to give time to evacuate civilians.”

The UN Security Council is deadlocked over how to respond to the Aleppo crisis, with Russia and the US failing to agree on renewing a cease-fire.

No assistance has entered Aleppo since July.

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