Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, once the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, has issued a striking declaration about the ongoing crisis in Syria, published by The Gateway Pundit on March 3, 2025. Known for his outspoken criticism of both ecclesiastical and global establishments, Viganò alleges that a “Christian genocide” is unfolding in Syria, driven by a Western-backed Islamist regime. His statement, rooted in his traditionalist perspective, demands attention to the plight of religious minorities amid a conflict that has ravaged the nation since 2011.
Viganò asserts that the United States and NATO, through their regime change policies, have enabled the rise of extremist forces responsible for massacring thousands of Christians and Alawites. He points to recent developments in Syria, where opposition groups, including those with Islamist ties, have regained momentum against the Assad government. According to Viganò, these forces, supported indirectly by Western powers, have targeted minority communities with brutal efficiency, while world leaders and the Catholic hierarchy remain largely silent.
The Syrian Civil War has undeniably brought immense suffering. Human rights reports confirm that Christians, Alawites, and other minorities have faced violence from multiple factions, including Islamist militias. Yet, Viganò’s use of “genocide” is a bold claim that invites scrutiny. Under international law, genocide requires a proven intent to eradicate a group—a threshold that, while plausible in isolated cases, remains debated in the broader Syrian context. The conflict’s complexity, involving overlapping agendas from regional and global powers, complicates such a definitive label.
Viganò’s critique extends beyond geopolitics to the Catholic Church itself. Excommunicated in July 2024 for schism—due to his rejection of Pope Francis’s authority and the Second Vatican Council—he accuses the Vatican of failing to adequately address the Syrian crisis. While Pope Francis has called for peace and aid, Viganò sees this as insufficient, reflecting his broader dissent from the Church’s modern direction.
His history adds another layer to this narrative. In 2018, Viganò gained notoriety for alleging that Pope Francis covered up sexual abuse by former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick. Some of those claims held weight, but others faltered under scrutiny, suggesting a pattern of provocative yet polarizing statements. This context urges readers to weigh his current declaration carefully.
Viganò’s words shine a spotlight on a real issue: the suffering of Syria’s Christians. Yet, his sweeping assertions about genocide and complicity demand rigorous examination. The West’s role in Syria—supporting opposition groups to counter Assad and ISIS—has had unintended consequences, including bolstering extremists. Still, the full picture resists simplification. His declaration challenges the silence of global institutions, but its intensity risks overshadowing the nuanced reality. What remains clear is the need for greater awareness and accountability regarding Syria’s forgotten victims.
