There is not a village, or town, in any county in Ireland that did not suffer losses in World War I - Revd Michael Roemmele in his homily at St Patrick's Cathedral.

“The bombings are not coming to an end, on the contrary, they are increasing significantly both during the day and at night” - Fr Ibrahim in Aleppo.

Fr Jacques Mourad released after five months as Pope says he is following with great concern what is happening in Syria, Iraq, Jerusalem and West Bank.

Bishops and catholic aid agency concerned over the pace of the EU and Irish response to the plight of thousands of refugees.

“At this very moment, bombs are raining down on the residential neighbourhoods of the city. There may be as many as 60 dead and 300 wounded."

"The majority of schools have space to enrol children and would be happy to do so' - Catholic Primary Schools Management Association.

The family, consisting of a father, mother and their two children, are from Damascus and are Greek Melkite Catholics.

On Syria and Iraq Pontiff appeals, “We need to find a solution, which is never a violent one, because violence only creates new wounds”.

It is “heartening to see that priority will be given to unaccompanied minors and that family reunification will be supported” - Eamonn Meehan.

Irish bishops take strong solidarity stance as they call for a generous response to the needs of refugees.

Archbishop of Dublin calls for a generous response to those caught up in the largest refugee crisis since the Second World War.

“The current mass movement of people into Europe represents the most serious displacement crisis the European Union has faced in recent times."

Militants send message of “violence and intolerance” by destroying symbol of Christianity and encouraging Syria's Christians to flee their homeland: Bishop Audo.

Christians in Quaryatay have been living in fear of IS since May this year, when Fr Jacques Mourad, the Syrian-Catholic priest responsible for Mar Elian convent, was kidnapped.

"If the West helps moderates in Syria in a direct way, it is helping ISIS in an indirect way.

Last year public donated €23 million to programmes which benefited 2.4 million people in 24 countries according to annual report.

Franciscan Order lost contact with Fr Dhiya Aziz, parish priest at Yacoubieh, during the afternoon of 4 July and they believe he was taken by militants.

Charity provided eight schools in Dohuk and Erbil in Kurdish northern Iraq to where 120,000 Christians fled last summer after attacks by so-called Islamic State.

“We priests are fully aware of the risks we run, but we cannot do otherwise than remain alongside the Syrian people, both Christians and Muslims.”

"We are cut off, like an island, surrounded by jihadists from all sides", Syrian Catholic Archbishop relates, as ISIS lays siege to town.

The conflict in Syria could come to an end much more quickly if the US would pressure its allies to stop aiding extremist groups: Archbishop Jean-Clement Jeanbart of Aleppo.

Persecution is intensifying, Archbishop Neary warns, with ancient Christian communities driven from their lands through ethnic cleaning.

Hope of their release remains, although the passing of every week and month “makes this more difficult” Nuncio in Syria states.

UN Secretary General, Ban ki-Moon, will meet Pope Francis in the Vatican later this month to issues including climate change.

“Aleppo has been cut off for 16 days, with no telecommunications, Internet or electricity... with mortar shells hitting the city every day.”

Religious conflict has become marketable, Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch Gregorios III of Antioch and All the East warns.

"May the international community not stand by before the immense humanitarian tragedy unfolding in these countries."

Good Friday collection supports the Holy Land shrines connected with the life of Jesus as well as for providing pastoral care to the region's Catholics.

Some 11.4 million people forced from their homes by the conflict which has resulted in more than 220,000 deaths.

Since 15 March 2011, 210,000 people have been killed in the war in Syria, one million injured, and more than 4 million people have fled the country.