‘The hatred it sows’: Pope recreates 2014 Vatican summit to pray for end to Gaza war
Israeli, PA envoys attend event at Holy See in which Francis calls for a ceasefire, release of hostages and warns the conflict will taint future generations
Pope Francis gathered the Israeli and Palestinian ambassadors to the Vatican Gardens on Friday to pray for an end to the war in Gaza, marking with a new appeal for peace the 10th anniversary of a similar encounter with the presidents of Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
“Every day I pray that this war will finally end,” Francis told the small gathering, which included around two dozen cardinals and the Holy See’s diplomatic corps.
Among them were Israeli Ambassador Raphael Schutz and Palestinian Ambassador Issa Kassissieh, as well as representatives of Italy’s Jewish and Muslim communities.
The event was a recreation of the first such encounter hosted by Francis, on June 8 — a decade ago, almost to the day — when the pontiff welcomed Israel’s late President Shimon Peres and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
At the time, a round of peace talks mediated by the United States had stalled, but Francis told the two presidents that he hoped their summit would mark “a new journey” toward peace. Then as now, Francis said too many children had been killed by war, and he begged for both sides to agree to a ceasefire in Gaza and the immediate return of hostages to Israel.
“All this suffering, the brutality of war, the violence it unleashes and the hatred it sows even among future generations should convince us all that every war leaves our world worse than it was before,” he said.
Francis has tried to toe a balanced line on Gaza after initially angering Israel with comments that were perceived as being only supportive of the Palestinians. In subsequent references to the conflict, the pope has made sure to mention Israelis’ suffering and to call for the return of hostages taken on October 7, when thousands of Hamas-led terrorists stormed southern Israel to kill nearly 1,200 people and take over 250 hostages, sparking the war.
In April, the pope met privately with hostages’ families, and was quoted as calling Hamas “evil.”
Lord, disarm our tongues and hands. Renew our hearts and minds, so that the words that bring us together are always “brother and sister.” May the style of our life become: shalom, peace, salam! Amen. #PeaceInTheHolyLand https://t.co/2ZuutBEyWm
— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) June 7, 2024
“I think of all who suffer in Israel and Palestine: Christians, Jews and Muslims. I think of how urgent it is that from the rubble of Gaza a decision to stop the weapons will finally arise, and therefore I ask that there be a ceasefire,” Francis said in a statement released by the Vatican on Friday.
“I think of the families and of the Israeli hostages and ask that they be released as soon as possible. I think of the Palestinian population and ask that they be protected and receive all necessary humanitarian aid,” he said, adding: “All of us must work and commit ourselves to achieving a lasting peace, where the State of Palestine and the State of Israel can live side by side.”
