I don't think the Pope expressed support for Assad - Reuters, which is generally unbiassed, says he wrote of his affection for the "sorely tried" people of Syria and appealed to Assad "to ensure that international humanitarian law is fully respected with regard to the protection of the civilians and access to humanitarian aid". Reuters says "some on-line news sites in the Middle East interpreted" this as a show of support for Assad. Sputnik news site in Moscow reported much the same but gave it an inaccurate headline saying the Pope had sent Assad condolences. Another example of post-truth. Assad and Putin are both utterly evil men.