Pope Leo Says This Is The ‘Only Solution’ To Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
PAPAFFIC FLIGHT TO BEIRUT, November 30 (Reuters) – Pope Leo reaffirmed the Vatican’s position, saying on Sunday that the only solution to the decades-old conflict between Israel and the Palestinian people must include a Palestinian state.
“We all know that Israel still does not accept this solution at the moment, but we see it as the only solution,” Leo, the first US pope, told reporters at his first press conference on the plane from Türkiye to Lebanon.
Speaking in Italian, the pope said, “We are also friends with Israel and try to be a mediating voice between the two sides that can help them approach a solution that is fair for all.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed his opposition to a Palestinian state after even his biggest ally, the United States, stated that it supports Palestinian independence.
In a brief eight-minute news conference, Leo focused on his visit to Türkiye, which he visited from Thursday to Sunday in his first foreign trip since being elected in May as leader of the 1.4 billion-member Catholic Church.
The Pope said he and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan discussed both the Israel-Palestine and Ukraine-Russia conflicts. Leo said that Türkiye played an important role in ending both wars. During his visit to Türkiye, the Pope warned that the future of humanity is at risk due to an unusual number of bloody conflicts in the world, and condemned violence committed in the name of religion.
ETHICS FOR ISRAELI SOLDIERS IN GAZA
Leo, who usually prefers to use careful and diplomatic language, increased criticism of Israel’s military operation in Gaza earlier this year.
Türkiye is predominantly Muslim but is also home to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the spiritual leader of the world’s 260 million Orthodox Christians.
Leo praised Türkiye as an example of religious coexistence.
“People of different religions can live in peace,” the Pope said. “This is an example of what I think we will all be looking for around the world.”
Leo will visit Lebanon until returning to Rome on Tuesday.
