Pope speaks to Iranian president on Mideast conflict

(ANSA) - ROME, NOV 6 - Pope Francis had a telephone conversation with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on Sunday afternoon, the Vatican press office has said.
    The conversation reportedly took place in the afternoon on Raisi's request.
    The discussion focussed on the conflict in the Middle East sparked by the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel and the Israeli response.
    According to Iranian sources, President Raisi said that "the brutal atrocities of the Zionist regime in Gaza represent the biggest genocide of the entire century and a crime against humanity".
    The Iranian news agency Irna also quotes the Pope as saying: "As the leader of the world's Catholics, I will do my best to stop the attacks and prevent further killing of women and children in Gaza".
    Sunday's telephone conversation was not the first contact between the Holy See and Iran since the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas.
    Last Monday Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Vatican's Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, had a telephone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.
    "During the conversation Archbishop Gallagher expressed the Holy See's serious concern about what is happening in Israel and Palestine, reiterating the absolute necessity to avoid escalating the conflict and to achieve a two-state solution for a stable and lasting peace in the Middle East," a Holy See statement said.
    On Sunday Pope Francis also reiterated his call for an end to hostilities during the Angelus prayer and blessing at the Vatican.
    "I continue to think about the extremely serious situation in Palestine and Israel where so many people have lost their lives," said the Pope.
    "In the name of God, I beg you to stop: cease fire," he continued.
    Francis also said he hoped "all avenues are pursued" to prevent a widening of the conflict.
    "May the wounded be helped and aid reach the population of Gaza, where the humanitarian situation is very serious," continued the pope.
    "The hostages should be freed immediately. Among them are many children: let them return to their families," he said. (ANSA).