Renewed calls for peace

Following last Sunday’s heartfelt appeal for continued prayer for peace in the Holy Land, this morning the Holy Father, Pope Francis personally telephoned President Shimon Peres and President Mahmoud Abbas to share his very serious concerns regarding the current situation of conflict involving in particular the Gaza Strip and which, in a climate of growing hostility, hatred and suffering for the two populations, is claiming many victims and giving rise to a serious humanitarian emergency.

As he did during his recent pilgrimage to the Holy Land and on the occasion of the invocation for peace on 8 June, the Holy Father assures his ceaseless prayer and that of all the Church for peace in the Holy Land. He reminded the Presidents, whom he considers to be men of peace and seekers of peace, of the need to continue to pray and endeavour to ensure that all the interested parties and those who hold political office at local and international level work to bring an end to hostilities, making efforts to promote a truce, peace and reconciliation in the hearts of those involved.