Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Urgent Papal Appeal for Mideast Peace

Vatican, Mar. 10, 2008 (CWNews.com) - Pope Benedict XVI (bio - news) renewed his plea for peace in the Middle East during his Angelus audience on Sunday, March 9.

"Over the last few days, violence and horror have once again bloodied the Holy Land, nourishing the spiral of destruction and death which seems to have no end," the Pope said. He appealed to the faithful to redouble their prayers for peace and express his sympathy for the victims of the latest round of violence.

The Holy Father urged both Israeli and Palestinian leaders to "support Israeli and Palestinian authorities in their intention to continue building, through negotiation, a peaceful and just future for their peoples." He exhorted all parties to "abandon the paths of hatred and revenge."

Turning to Iraq, the Pope mentioned his mounting concern about the welfare of Archbishop Paulos Faraj Raho, whose condition remained unknown 10 days after he was abducted after leaving the cathedral in Mosul. He expressed his concern, too, for the many people in Iraq "who continue to be subject to blind and meaningless violence which is certainly contrary to the wishes of God."

No comments: