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.
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