Pope urges ‘no to hatred and revenge’ as fighting scars Holy Land
Francis says during Sunday prayers that he prayed to God to strengthen leaders, citizens to reject violence and accept peace
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis called Sunday for those caught up in violence in the Holy Land to have the “courage and fortitude to say no to hatred,” after fears weeks of Palestinian terror attacks could turn into a full-scale Palestinian uprising.
“I follow with great concern the situation of tension and violence that plagues Holy Land,” he said during Sunday’s Angelus prayer in Saint Peter’s Square.
“There is a great need now for the courage and fortitude to say no to hatred and revenge and make gestures of peace.”
The Argentine said he prayed to God to “strengthen in all, rulers and citizens, the courage to oppose violence and to take concrete steps to ease tensions.”
“In the current context of the Middle East, peace in the Holy Land is more crucial than ever,” he added.
The 78-year-old head of the Roman Catholic Church was speaking as Israel pressed ahead with major security measures after five more stabbing incidents and over six weeks of relentless violence.
The violence has seen eight Israelis killed and dozens more injured by Palestinians in a spate of stabbings and other attacks, including rioting in several West Bank cities and at the Gaza border. Forty-one Palestinians have been killed in the violence, including 20 identified by Israel as attackers.
Much of the violence has centered over Palestinian claims that Israel intends to change the fragile status quo at Jerusalem’s Temple Mount, Judaism’s holiest site, which is also revered by Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary. Israeli officials have strenuously denied any intention of changing the status quo in the compound, where Jews are currently allowed to visit but not to pray.