JAKARTA – Pope Leo XIV asserted that Palestinian civilians have the right to live in peace in their land in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, while reaffirming the Holy See’s support for the two-state solution.
In an annual meeting with diplomats accredited to the Vatican to exchange New Year greetings, the Pope said the humanitarian suffering of civilians continued despite the ceasefire announced in October, adding to the burden of hardship they had already experienced.
He said the Holy See continues to closely monitor every diplomatic initiative aimed at ensuring a future of sustainable peace and justice for the Palestinian people in Gaza, for all the Palestinian people, and for all the Israeli people.
As reported by ANTARA from WAFA-OANA, the Pope emphasized that the two-state solution remains an institutional framework that is able to respond to the legitimate aspirations of both nations. However, he also highlighted the increasing violence in the West Bank against Palestinian civilians, who he said had the right to live in peace in their own land.
On that occasion, the Pope criticized the return of war, which he described as a trend, as well as noting the increasing militarization and weakening of international multilateralism.
He assessed that diplomacy that encourages dialogue and consensus is now increasingly replaced by what he called ‘power diplomacy’, which is run by individuals or groups of allied countries.
According to the Pope, the principle established after World War II, which prohibits states from using force to violate the borders of other states, has now been violated.
He added that peace was no longer sought as a value in itself, but was imposed through the power of weapons as a means to demonstrate dominance and sovereignty.
Pope Leo XIV warned that such tendencies undermine the rule of law, which he called the main foundation for civilized and peaceful coexistence.
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