Christmas Message: Pope Decries Gaza's 'Appalling Harvest' of Civilian Deaths
Editor
26 December 2023 20:23 WIB
Speaking from the same balcony where he first appeared to the world on the night of his election on March 13, 2013, he said his "heart grieves for the victims of the abominable attack of 7 October" and again called for the release of hostages.
'APPALLING HARVEST'
"I plead for an end to the military operations with their appalling harvest of innocent civilian victims, and call for a solution to the desperate humanitarian situation by an opening to the provision of humanitarian aid," he said.
Last week, a U.N.-backed body said in a report that the entire 2.3 million population of Gaza was facing crisis levels of hunger and that the risk of famine was increasing every day.
The Vatican, which has diplomatic relations with both Israel and the Palestinian Authority, believes a two-state solution is the only answer to the long-running conflict. Francis called for "persevering dialogue between the parties, sustained by strong political will and the support of the international community".
Dedicating an entire paragraph of his message to the weapons trade, Francis said: "And how can we even speak of peace, when arms production, sales and trade are on the rise?"
He called for more investigation of the armaments trade.
"It should be talked about and written about, so as to bring to light the interests and the profits that move the puppet strings of war," he said.
REUTERS
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