His comments came just days after he called for an investigation into allegations that Israel was committing “genocide” against Palestinians in Gaza….reports Asian Lite News
Pope Francis on Monday criticized the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Palestinian territories, condemning the “arrogance of the invader” as it “prevails over dialogue.”
Speaking to diplomats at the Vatican, the 87-year-old pontiff emphasized the importance of dialogue in international relations, especially in light of current global conflicts.
His comments came just days after he called for an investigation into allegations that Israel was committing “genocide” against Palestinians in Gaza.
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Marking the 40th anniversary of the peace agreement between Chile and Argentina, Pope Francis also condemned the arms trade, calling out the “hypocrisy of speaking about peace while playing at war,” a sentiment he said always leads to failure.
He noted that humanity is currently witnessing two significant failures—Ukraine and Palestine—where ongoing suffering continues to be overshadowed by military aggression rather than peaceful resolution.
Since becoming Pope in 2013, Francis has consistently voiced his concern for both Ukraine and Gaza. He has frequently prayed for the victims of the conflict in Gaza, and also for the people of Ukraine, which has been at war with Russia since 2022.
In addition to his calls for peace, the Pope has advocated for the return of Israeli hostages taken by Hamas during its October 7 attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,206 people, mostly civilians.
Israel’s subsequent military campaign in Gaza has led to at least 44,235 deaths, mostly among civilians, according to figures from Gaza’s health ministry.
These figures are considered credible by the UN. The Vatican recognized Palestine as a sovereign state in 2013 and signed a treaty with it in 2015.
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