Pope Francis urged Iran and Israel on Sunday to avoid steps that could feed "a spiral of violence" that risked plunging the Middle East deeper into conflict.
Pope Francis leads the Regina Caeli prayer from his window at the Vatican, April 14, 2024. Vatican Media/Handout via Reuters
Pope Francis urged Iran and Israel on Sunday to avoid steps that could feed "a spiral of violence" that risked plunging the Middle East deeper into conflict.
Speaking to pilgrims in St Peter's Square, Francis said he had been following news of Iran's drone and missile attack on Israel with a sense of concern and pain.
"I make a heartfelt appeal for a halt to any action that could fuel a spiral of violence with the risk of dragging the Middle East into an even greater conflict," he said.
"No one should threaten the existence of others. All nations should stand, instead, for peace, and help Israelis and Palestinians to live in two states, side by side, in safety,"
he added.
The pope called for a ceasefire in Gaza and negotiations to allow humanitarian aid to be provided for its people and to help free Israeli hostages seized by Hamas in its Oct. 7 attack on Israel.
"Enough war, enough attacks, enough violence. Yes to dialogue, yes to peace," he said.
Writing by Keith Weir
Iran warned on Sunday against any big new attack by the United States and its allies, saying it had information such a move was being prepared, adding to the anxiety in a region already on edge after drone and missile strikes on Saudi Arabia.
A major step forward in Morocco-Israel relations: the two countries "have confirmed their agreement on elevating [their] diplomatic missions to full embassy status," Le Monde reports.
For 24 hours, Israel will live in slow motion. Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement and the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, begins Sunday evening.
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