POPE Francis and the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem have responded to the outbreak of conflict in Israel and Palestine over the weekend.
The Pope said at the end of a public address on Sunday he was following the violence “with apprehension and sorrow,” and issued an appeal to “please stop weapons attacks”.
“May the attacks and weapons cease,” he said. “Please.”
“And let it be understood that terrorism and war do not lead to any resolutions, but only to the death and suffering of so many innocent people,” Pope Francis said.
“War is a defeat. Let us pray that there be peace in Israel and in Palestine.”
The head of the Catholic Church in Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, called for a de-escalation of the situation in a statement on October 7.
“The continuing bloodshed and declarations of war remind us once again of the urgent need to find a lasting and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in this land,” he said.
A series of rocket attacks and incursions on Israel from Hamas militants had reportedly killed 600 and wounded thousands between Saturday and Sunday morning.
The surprise attacks began early on the morning of October 7, the start of the observance of the Jewish holiday Simchat Torah.
Israel reacted to the attacks by fighting back in southern Israel and launching airstrikes in Gaza. Israeli military official Daniel Hagari told reporters Sunday morning that “hundreds of terrorists” had been killed during fighting in Gaza and southern Israel, the Associated Press reported.
Read the article from the Catholic News Agency in The Catholic Leader.