2023-11-03 04:47:27
In the conversation with Abbas, the pontiff also expressed his sadness over the deaths of civilians
EFE/MAURIZIO BRAMBATTI Pope Francis is the leader of the Catholic Church
O Pope Francisco spoke this Thursday, 2, by telephone with the president of Palestinian National Authority (PNA), Mahmoud Abbason the urgency of providing humanitarian assistance to achieve peace in the Middle East. During the call, the “latest developments in Palestine, including Gaza, the West Bank and Jerusalem” were discussed. The pontiff also expressed his sadness over the civilian deaths, the Palestinian news agency Wafa reported. The Palestinian leader thanked Francis for his peacebuilding efforts in the region and praised the importance of the Vatican’s continued call for a ceasefire. In the phone call, which took place on Thursday afternoon, Abbas emphasized the importance of implementing “a political solution based on international legitimacy to achieve the freedom, independence and sovereignty of the Palestinian people”, according to Wafa.
Abbas also emphasized the imperative to end terrorism against the Palestinian people in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and reiterated his firm rejection of the forced displacement of Palestinians. In November 2021, Francis received Abbas at the Vatican during a meeting in which the pope expressed the “absolute need to reactivate direct dialogue to reach a two-state solution, also with the help of more vigorous engagement by the international community.” . “It was reaffirmed that Jerusalem must be recognized by all as a place of encounter and not of conflict, and that its status must safeguard the universal identity and value of the Holy City for the three Abrahamic religions, also through an internationally guaranteed special status ”, according to a note issued by the Holy See.
*With information from EFE
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