Pope Leo XIV has left this Tuesday in defense of his Secretary of State, the Cardinal Pietro Parolin, of the criticism of the Israel Embassy by qualify as “inhuman” the war in Gaza, claiming that The defense must be proportional.
“I prefer not to comment, but the Cardinal expressed very well the opinion of the Holy See in this regard,” confessed the American pontiff at his exit from the Palace of the Roman town of Castel Gandolfo.
He also stressed that “They have been two very painful years,” Remembering that on Tuesday the second anniversary of the Hamas attacks in Israel on October 7, 2023 is commemorated.
“Two years ago, with that terrorist act, more than 1,200 people died,” has said, and then add that “There is talk of 67,000 Palestinians who have also been killed” After that.
Facts that in his opinion reflect “How bad is capable of generating the human being”: “So you have to reduce hate, recover the ability to dialogue and seek peace solutions.”
In the interview published Monday on the occasion of the second anniversary of Hamás’s attack, the Secretary of State had explained that “Any plan involving the Palestinian people in decisions about your future and allow the end of this massacre, reheating hostages and ending the daily killing of hundreds of people, It will be welcome and supported. “
He also claimed that Hamas’s attack “was inhuman and unjustifiable” and “the attacked have the right to defend themselves, but Even the legitimate defense must respect the proportionality parameter “ And “unfortunately, the resulting war has had disastrous and inhuman consequences.”
Given these statements, the Israeli diplomatic headquarters considered that the interview with Parolin “runs the risk of undermining efforts to end war in Gaza and counteract the growing anti -Semitism. “
“Although undoubtedly well -intentioned (…), he focuses on criticizing Israel, ignoring Hamas’s persistent negative to free hostages or stopping violence,” they stressed in a message on their X account.
Leo XIV has also argued that Terrorism and hate “cannot be accepted” and has lamented the acts of “anti -Semitism” in the world.
“It is clear that groups that commit terrorist acts cannot be accepted; we must always reject that style of hatred in the world. At the same time, the existence – I do not know whether or not to increase – of these acts of anti -Semitism is worrying,” he said.
He added: “We must always proclaim peace, respect for the dignity of all people. That is the message of the Church. We pray (…) and we will also seek the forms that the Church has at your disposal to always promote dialogue.”