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Germany to Expand Financial Program for Syrians Seeking to Return

A couple watches the sunset atop Mount Qassioun, which was opened to the public after the fall of the Assad regime, in Damascus, Syria, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
A couple watches the sunset atop Mount Qassioun, which was opened to the public after the fall of the Assad regime, in Damascus, Syria, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
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Germany to Expand Financial Program for Syrians Seeking to Return

A couple watches the sunset atop Mount Qassioun, which was opened to the public after the fall of the Assad regime, in Damascus, Syria, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
A couple watches the sunset atop Mount Qassioun, which was opened to the public after the fall of the Assad regime, in Damascus, Syria, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

Germany plans to expand a financial program for Syrian nationals seeking to return to their home country in the wake of the ouster of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Dec. 8, a spokesperson for the interior ministry said on Friday.

"In future, we want to expand the program for those who want to leave voluntarily," the spokesperson said, adding that 200 euros ($205) in travel expenses and 1,000 euros in start-up costs were available for each adult seeking to leave Germany.

"I think the situation is still too unclear for larger return movements," the spokesperson added.

Opposition fighters seized control of Damascus on Dec. 8 and forced al-Assad to flee after more than 13 years of civil war, ending his family's decades-long rule.

Many Syrian refugees have since returned to their home country.

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Pope Francis Makes Brief Easter Appearance, Calls for Gaza Ceasefire

Pope Francis stands on the main balcony of St Peter's basilica during the Urbi et Orbi message and blessing to the city and the world as part of Easter celebrations, at St Peter's square in the Vatican on April 20, 2025. (AFP)
Pope Francis stands on the main balcony of St Peter's basilica during the Urbi et Orbi message and blessing to the city and the world as part of Easter celebrations, at St Peter's square in the Vatican on April 20, 2025. (AFP)
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Pope Francis Makes Brief Easter Appearance, Calls for Gaza Ceasefire

Pope Francis stands on the main balcony of St Peter's basilica during the Urbi et Orbi message and blessing to the city and the world as part of Easter celebrations, at St Peter's square in the Vatican on April 20, 2025. (AFP)
Pope Francis stands on the main balcony of St Peter's basilica during the Urbi et Orbi message and blessing to the city and the world as part of Easter celebrations, at St Peter's square in the Vatican on April 20, 2025. (AFP)

Pope Francis reiterated his call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza in an Easter Sunday message read aloud by an aide as the pontiff, still recovering from pneumonia, looked on during a brief appearance on the main balcony of St Peter's Basilica.

The 88-year-old pope, limiting his workload on doctors' orders, did not preside over the Vatican's Mass for Easter but appeared at the end of the event for a twice-yearly blessing and message known as the Urbi et Orbi (to the city and the world).

Before a five-week hospital stay for pneumonia, which nearly killed him, Francis had been ramping up criticism of Israel's military campaign in Gaza, calling the humanitarian situation in the Palestinian enclave "very serious and shameful" in January.

In the Easter message, the pontiff said the situation in Gaza was "dramatic and deplorable". The pope also called on Palestinian group Hamas to release its remaining hostages and condemned what he said was a "worrisome" trend of antisemitism in the world.

"I express my closeness to the sufferings ... of all the Israeli people and the Palestinian people," said the message.

"I appeal to the warring parties: call a ceasefire, release the hostages and come to the aid of a starving people that aspires to a future of peace," it said.

Hamas last week rejected an Israeli proposal for another temporary truce, instead demanding a deal to end the war in exchange for the release of hostages. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday he had instructed the Israeli military to intensify pressure on Hamas.

The war was triggered by the Hamas-led October 7 attack on southern Israel in 2023, in which 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies.

Since then, more than 51,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli offensive, according to local health authorities. The Gaza health ministry says 1,600 people have been killed in the past month.

Earlier on Sunday, Francis held a meeting at the Vatican with US Vice President JD Vance, who has been visiting Italy over the weekend.

The Vatican said the meeting with Vance was brief, "lasting a few minutes", in order to exchange Easter greetings.