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The Pope's secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, said the situation in Gaza on the second anniversary of the October 7 terrorist attack is worse now than it was a year ago, as he called for an end to the war and for any remaining hostages to be released to their families.
In an interview in L'Osservatore Romano and Vatican News, Cardinal Parolin re-emphasized how the attack on October 7, 2023, was "inhuman and indefensible," and urged that "this perverse spiral of hatred and violence, which risks dragging us into an abyss with no return, come to an end."
The cardinal acknowledged that Israel had a right to defend itself, "but even legitimate defense must respect the principle of proportionality."
He called for the immediate release of all hostages still being held captive and expressed his emotion at the images of people still imprisoned in Hamas tunnels and "reduced to starvation."
Two states
He also reiterated the Holy See's long-held position that the only solution in the region is for two states: Israel and Palestine.
He called for an "independent, sovereign, democratic, and viable Palestinian state, including the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza."
Cardinal Parolin welcomed the recent recognition of the State of Palestine by certain countries such as France, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. However, he expresses his "concern" that "Israeli statements and decisions" are "moving in the opposite direction, namely, that they aim to prevent the birth of a true Palestinian state forever."
When asked about the rise of anti-Semitism, the cardinal described it as "a cancer that must be fought and eradicated."
"No Jew should be attacked or discriminated against because they are Jewish," he insisted, stressing that this is equally true for "Palestinians," who should not be seen as "potential terrorists."
Cardinal Parolin also sought to differentiate between the policies of the current Israeli government and the "Jewish world," from which "many voices of strong dissent" are emerging.
More tragic than a year ago
Q: Your Eminence, we are entering the third year since the tragic October 7 attack. How do you remember that moment, and what did it mean, in your view, for the State of Israel and Jewish communities around the world?
I repeat what I said back then: the terrorist attack carried out by Hamas and other militias against thousands of Israelis and migrants living there, many of them civilians, who were preparing to celebrate Simchat Torah, the conclusion of the week-long Sukkot festival, was inhuman and indefensible. The brutal violence against children, women, young people, the elderly — there can be no justification for it. It was a shameful and, I repeat, inhuman massacre.
The Holy See immediately expressed its total and firm condemnation, calling for the immediate release of the hostages and showing closeness to the families affected by the terrorist attack.
We prayed, and continue to pray, and we continue to ask that this perverse spiral of hatred and violence, which risks dragging us into an abyss with no return, come to an end.
On the first anniversary of the October 7 attack, Pope Francis spoke of “the shameful incapacity of the international community and the most powerful nations to silence the weapons and put an end to the tragedy of war.” What is needed for peace?
Today, the situation in Gaza is even more serious and tragic than it was a year ago, following a devastating war that has claimed tens of thousands of lives. We need to recover a sense of reason, abandon the blind logic of hatred and revenge, and reject violence as a solution. Those who are attacked have a right to defend themselves, but even legitimate defence must respect the principle of proportionality.
Unfortunately, the resulting war has brought about disastrous and inhuman consequences… I am struck and deeply afflicted by the daily death toll in Palestine — dozens, sometimes hundreds, every day — so many children whose only fault seems to be having been born there. We risk becoming desensitized to this carnage!
People killed while trying to find a piece of bread, buried under the rubble of their homes, bombed in hospitals, in tent camps, displaced and forced to move from one end of that narrow, overcrowded territory to another…
It is unacceptable and unjustifiable to reduce human beings to mere “collateral damage.”
Read the rest of the interview at Vatican News.
Pope Leo XIV, U.S. bishops express optimism for Middle East peace plan
Meanwhile, a second day of talks continue in Egypt on this anniversary, to bring Hamas and Israel to agree on the end of the war.
Both Pope Leo XIV and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops expressed support for a proposed peace plan from US President Donald Trump, that seeks to end the war in Gaza.
On Sunday, October 5, speaking at the end of a Jubilee Mass, Pope Leo XIV asked for prayers as the peace process in the Middle East continued.
"In recent hours, in the dramatic situation in the Middle East, some significant steps forward have been taken in peace negotiations, which I hope will achieve the desired results as soon as possible. I ask all those in positions of responsibility to commit themselves to this path, to bring about a ceasefire and to release the hostages," said the Pontiff.
He continued, "At the same time, I urge everyone to remain united in prayer, so that the ongoing efforts may put an end to the war and lead us towards a just and lasting peace."
Pope Leo XIV's prayer request echoed an October 1 statement from Bishop A. Elias Zaidan, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace in response to the proposed plan.
“As details emerge of a new, 20-point plan to end the war in Gaza — which includes provisions for the freeing of hostages, amnesty for those willing to accept peace, the ability for Gazans to remain on their land, and robust humanitarian and development assistance in the Strip — I call on Catholics and all men and women of good will to, once again, pray ardently for an end to this devastating war," said Zaidan.
Bishop Zaidan is a Maronite Catholic and leads the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles.
Involving the region
Zaidan praised the plan for its incorporation of Jordan and Egypt in the overarching peace plan, something that "recognizes the reality of the region’s interconnectedness."
He continued, "I am especially hopeful of the plan’s ‘interfaith dialogue process,’ which is intended to create a greater sense of community between Israelis and Palestinians ‘based on the values of tolerance and peaceful co-existence.’ As Pope Leo XIV recently reminded us, the ‘deepest purpose of the Church’s social doctrine’ is a ‘contribution to peace and dialogue in the service of building bridges of universal fraternity.’"
Pope Leo XIV spoke of the peace plan as a "realistic proposal," noted Zaidan, and hoped that Hamas would accept the terms of the plan.
“In this difficult context, any peace plan will involve challenges that will require the utmost effort and cooperation from all sides. However, as an international community and people of faith who deeply care for all our brothers and sisters who live in the land of Christ’s life, death, and glorious resurrection, we cannot lose this opportunity for peace. May Our Lady, Seat of Wisdom, instill on all sides a sincere willingness to attain peace," said Zaidan.
