Pope Francis is praying for Syria. He's urging international representatives at peace talks in Switzerland to come to an agreement to end the nearly three-year civil war that has destabilized the entire region.

(SOUNDBITE) (Italian) POPE FRANCIS, SAYING:

"I pray to God to touch the hearts of everyone to try and not spare any efforts to urgently reach a stop to the violence and end to the conflict, which has already caused so much suffering. I wish for the dear Syrian nation a decisive path towards reconciliation, harmony and reconstruction with the participation of all citizens, where everyone can find in his fellow not an enemy, not an adversary, but a brother to accept and embrace."

Repeatedly, the Catholic Church has called for an end to the conflict. A delegation from the Vatican is attending the talks, which is being mediated by the United Nations.

The civil war has killed more than 100,000 people.