Catholic Archbishop of Sao Paulo, Cardinal Odilo Pedro Scherer, presided upon mass for peace in Syria and the Middle East at the Sao Paulo Cathedral upon the request of Pope Francis.

In a sermon, Cardinal Scherer stressed the need to turn away from the violence, division, and discord caused by wars and crises and putting an end to destroying, pain, and killing, because war and violence only lead to doom and hatred.

He prayed for an end to the war on Syria, saying that the Syrian people are an example of people who do not succumb to despair and who love life.

For his part, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Sao Paulo and all Brazil, Metropolitan Damaskinos Mansour said that Syrians had always lived in peace and tranquility, but certain external forces sought and still seek to undermine that peace.

The Metropolitan stressed that Syrians don’t need anyone to protect them; rather they need peace to prevail in the country, stressing that without peace in Syria, there cannot be peace in the rest of the world, adding that peace cannot prevail without ending the support provided to terrorism.