Pope Francis condemned this Saturday the “horrible increase” in attacks on Jews around the world and the rise in anti-Semitism and anti-Judaism since October 7, the day the war between Israel and Hamas began.
“We Catholics, together with you, are very concerned about the appalling increase in attacks against Jews throughout the world,” the Pope writes in a letter addressed to “Jewish brothers and sisters in Israel” and released this Saturday by the Vatican.
Francis stresses that Catholics “unequivocally condemn” manifestations of hatred of Jews and Judaism, classifying them as a “sin against God.”
The leader of the Catholic Church admitted that his “heart is breaking at what is happening in the Holy Land,” emphasizing that the whole world is looking at it with alarm and pain and expresses “special closeness and affection for the peoples” of this region.
“I hug each of you, and especially those who are overcome by sadness, pain, fear and even anger,” he said.
Saying he prays that “God will intervene and put an end to the war and hatred” that threaten peace, Francis says he hopes peace will prevail.
In his opinion, Jews and Catholics should work for peace and justice in the Holy Land, doing everything possible to create relationships that can open new horizons.
The most recent conflict between Israel and Hamas was sparked by an unprecedented attack by the Palestinian Islamist movement on Israeli territory, which killed 1,140 people, mostly civilians, and took more than 200 hostages.
In response, Israel, which promised to eliminate the Palestinian Islamist movement, considered terrorist by the European Union and the United States, launched a large-scale offensive in the Gaza Strip, where more than 27 thousand people live, according to local authorities supervised by Hamas. Already killed – mostly women, children and teenagers.
The conflict has also displaced some 1.9 million people (about 85% of the population), plunging the overpopulated and impoverished Palestinian enclave into a severe humanitarian crisis, according to the UN.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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