Pope Leo XIV has condemned the “barbarity” of the Israeli regime for its violent actions against the Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip, calling for an immediate end to the ongoing aggression.
During his traditional Angelus prayer on Sunday, the Vatican leader denounced the “barbarity” of the war in Palestinian territories and cautioned against the “indiscriminate use of force.”
His appeal followed a deadly strike by Israeli forces three days earlier on a Catholic church in Gaza, resulting in over a dozen casualties.
The Holy Family Church, the only Catholic church in Gaza, was targeted in a deadly Israeli attack on Thursday.
“I once again urge for an immediate end to the barbarity of war and for a peaceful resolution to the conflict,” Pope Leo stated at Castel Gandolfo, the papal summer residence near Rome.
Pope Leo specifically condemned the attack on the Holy Family Church, which was sheltering around 600 displaced individuals, the majority of whom were children, including many people with disabilities and special needs.
“This act, unfortunately, contributes to the ongoing military assaults against the civilian population and places of worship in Gaza,” Leo remarked on Sunday.
“I appeal to the international community to uphold humanitarian law and honor the obligation to protect civilians, as well as to refrain from collective punishment, the indiscriminate use of force, and the forced displacement of populations,” he insisted.
The United Nations Human Rights Office in Geneva has indicated that the Israeli strike on the church sheltering displaced Palestinians may constitute a war crime.
On Friday, the UN human rights office called for an investigation into the Israeli attack on the church. A spokesman for the UN office, Thameen Al-Kheetan, said the attack on a religious site housing displaced civilians raises serious concerns of a “violation of international law” and could be classified as “a war crime.”
On the same day, leaders from the Catholic and Greek Orthodox churches visited the Holy Family Catholic Church to assess the damage inflicted by the Israeli strike.
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, accompanied by Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III, reported that the pope personally reached out to express his concern during their visit to the church.
“Pope Leo made it clear that it is time to stop this slaughter, that what has occurred is unjustifiable, and we must work to ensure there are no further victims,” Pizzaballa told Vatican News.
He added that the pope conveyed his “closeness, care, prayer, support, and commitment to do everything possible to achieve not only a ceasefire but also an end to this tragedy.”
(Press TV)
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