Pope Francis, the spiritual leader of Catholics and head of the Vatican, expressed his hope on Sunday that the conflict in the Middle East, which he described as “already particularly violent and bloody,” would not escalate further. He voiced his concerns about the rising tensions in the region.
Addressing the crowd after reciting the Angelus prayer in St. Peter’s Square, the Pope stressed that “attacks, even targeted ones, and killings can never be a solution.” He emphasized that such actions only lead to more hatred and revenge, rather than paving the way for justice and peace.
The Pontiff also called for the “courage to resume dialogue” to halt the fighting in Gaza and on all fronts immediately and to secure the release of hostages while ensuring humanitarian aid reaches the affected population.
Israel, defying a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire, has faced international condemnation for its ongoing offensive on Gaza since an attack last October by the Palestinian resistance group Hamas.
According to local health authorities, nearly 39,600 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed, and around 91,400 have been injured since the conflict began.
After almost ten months of conflict, Gaza remains devastated, with much of the territory in ruins and its population suffering from a severe blockade limiting access to food, clean water, and medicine.
Israel is accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice, which has ordered the immediate cessation of its military operation in Rafah, a southern city where over a million Palestinians had sought refuge before it was invaded on May 6.
