Latest news with #PopeLeo
Free Malaysia Today
4 days ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Pope Leo has first call with Palestinian chief Abbas
Pope Leo condemned the 'barbarity' of the war in Gaza yesterday and again called for a peaceful resolution. (Vatican media/AP pic) VATICAN CITY : Pope Leo spoke by phone today to the president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmud Abbas, about the conflict in Gaza and violence in the West Bank, the Vatican said. It was the first official conversation between the two men since Leo's papacy began. 'The Holy Father repeated his appeal for international humanitarian law to be fully respected, emphasising in particular the obligation to protect civilians and sacred places, the prohibition of the indiscriminate use of force and of the forced transfer of the population,' the Vatican wrote. The pope emphasised 'the urgent need to provide assistance to those most vulnerable to the consequences of the conflict and to allow the adequate entry of humanitarian aid', it said. It followed a call on Friday between the pope and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a day after a strike by Israel on Gaza's only Catholic Church that killed three people. Yesterday, Leo condemned the 'barbarity' of the war in Gaza and again called for a peaceful resolution. The Holy See, which supports a two-state solution, formally recognised the state of Palestine through an agreement signed in 2015, one of the first states in Europe to do so. In 2014, Israeli and Palestinian presidents Shimon Peres and Abbas planted an olive tree alongside Pope Francis in the Vatican gardens.
LBCI
4 days ago
- Politics
- LBCI
Pope speaks against 'forced' mass displacement of Gaza civilians
Pope Leo warned against the "indiscriminate use of force" and the "forced mass displacement" of people in the Gaza strip in a phone conversation with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday, the Vatican said in a statement. Reuters
Khaleej Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Khaleej Times
Pope speaks against forced mass displacement of Gaza civilians
Pope Leo, whose role in advocating for peace in Gaza has become notably stark since Israel struck the territory's only Catholic church last week, told Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday that he opposed any forced displacement of Palestinians. The Vatican said Abbas, who leads the internationally recognised Palestinian Authority, had phoned the pope on Monday, three days after Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called and expressed regret over the strike on Gaza's Holy Family church. Israel has said the strike, which killed three people and wounded the church's parish priest, was a mistake. The small church in Gaza has been a focus of papal advocacy for peace throughout the war in the territory. Pope Leo's predecessor Pope Francis spoke to the parish nightly. In Monday's conversation with Abbas, Leo condemned the "indiscriminate use of force" and any "forced mass displacement" of people in the Gaza Strip, the Vatican said. Israel has said it wants Gazans to move to a special humanitarian zone in Gaza or leave the territory voluntarily. All mainstream Palestinian groups and neighbouring Arab states have rejected any plan that would displace them. In emotional remarks on Sunday after his weekly Angelus prayer, Leo read out the names of those killed at the church in Gaza and called for an end to the "barbarity of war".
Arab News
4 days ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Pope speaks against ‘forced' mass displacement of Gaza civilians
VATICAN CITY: Pope Leo warned against the 'indiscriminate use of force' and the 'forced mass displacement' of people in the Gaza strip in a phone conversation with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday, the Vatican said in a statement.
LBCI
5 days ago
- Politics
- LBCI
Pope Leo calls for end to 'barbarity of war' after strike on Gaza church
Pope Leo called for an end to the 'barbarity of war' on Sunday as he spoke of his profound pain over an Israeli strike on the sole Catholic church in Gaza. Three people died and several were injured, including the parish priest, in the strike on the Holy Family Church compound in Gaza City on Thursday. Photos show its roof has been hit close to the main cross, scorching the stone facade, and shattering windows. "I appeal to the international community to observe humanitarian law and respect the obligation to protect civilians as well as the prohibition of collective punishment, of indiscriminate use of force and forced displacement of the population," he said. Reuters
