During his weekly General Audience at the Vatican on Wednesday, Pope Francis acknowledged Israel's right to self-defense amidst the ongoing border conflict.
However, he expressed doubt over whether violence would bring about a resolution.
The Pope's comments came after his sermon on the life of St. Josephine Bakhita. "I continue to follow what is happening in Israel and Palestine with tears and apprehension: many people killed, others injured," he said. "I pray for those families who have seen a feast day transformed into a day of mourning, and I ask that the hostages be released immediately."
While Pope Francis recognized Israel's right to protect itself in the wake of the extensive terrorist attack by Hamas, he also lamented the loss of innocent lives in the conflict. "It is the right of those who are attacked to defend themselves," he stated, "but I am very concerned about the total siege under which the Palestinians are living in Gaza, where there have also been many innocent victims."
As of Thursday morning, the Israel Defense Forces reported over 1,200 Israeli fatalities and at least 3,000 injuries. The Palestinian Ministry of Health also reported that 1,203 Palestinians have been killed and 5,763 wounded since Saturday morning.
"Terrorism and extremism do not help reach a solution to the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, but fuel hatred, violence, revenge, and only cause each to other suffer," Pope Francis said. "The Middle East does not need war, but peace, a peace built on dialogue and the courage of fraternity."
Catholic leaders in the region have expressed support for Israel's self-defense efforts following Hamas's large-scale attack on military and civilian lives last week. However, they have also advocated for an immediate cease-fire to halt the bloodshed.
"The continuing bloodshed and declarations of war remind us once again of the urgent need to find a lasting and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in this land," Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa said in a statement on Saturday.
The Custody of the Holy Land, the Catholic priory responsible for administering and safeguarding holy sites from the life of Jesus Christ, is striving to keep pilgrimage sites open for the faithful currently in Israel. "Our sanctuaries remain open for the time being, especially to allow the pilgrimages underway to be able to carry out their spiritual experience as well as possible," the Custody of the Holy Land announced in a statement.
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