Pope Leo XIV, the head of the Roman Catholic Church, on Sunday called for an end to what he described as the “barbarism and indiscriminate use of force” in the war in Gaza, following an attack on a Catholic church in the area.
A Plea for Peace and Protection of Civilians
“Once again, I call for an urgent end to the barbarism of this war and a peaceful resolution to the conflict,” the Pope stated at the end of the Angelus prayer, urging the international community to respect humanitarian law and the obligation to protect civilians, AFP reported.
The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem announced on Thursday, July 17, that three people were killed in an Israeli attack on the only Catholic church in the Gaza Strip.
Direct Appeal to Netanyahu and Israeli Investigation
The Pope spoke by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a day later, reiterating to him the “urgent importance of protecting places of worship and, above all, all believers and people in Palestine and Israel,” the Vatican announced.
Netanyahu stated on the same day that he deeply regretted the attack on the church and announced that Israel would conduct a detailed investigation into the incident.
