Pope renews call for ‘wisdom and prudence’ over Jerusalem
Noting that Jerusalem was sacred to Christians, Jews and Muslims, the pope reiterated the church’s “well-known position concerning the singular character of the Holy City and the essential need for respecting the status quo.”
world Updated: Dec 10, 2017 19:34 IST
Pope Francis on Sunday renewed a call for “wisdom and prudence” over US President Donald Trump’s controversial decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, which has sparked protests and clashes.
“The Holy Father renews his appeal for the wisdom and prudence of everyone, and raises fervent prayers so that the leaders of nations, in this time of special gravity, commit themselves to avert a new spiral of violence,” a statement from the Vatican said.
There were fresh protests in the Middle East and elsewhere Sunday over Trump’s declaration, a move that drew global condemnation and sparked days of unrest in the Palestinian territories.
Noting that Jerusalem was sacred to Christians, Jews and Muslims, the pope reiterated the church’s “well-known position concerning the singular character of the Holy City and the essential need for respecting the status quo”.
“At the same time the Holy See reiterates its own conviction that only a negotiated solution between Israelis and Palestinians can bring a stable and lasting peace, and guarantee the peaceful co-existence of two states within internationally recognised borders,” the statement added.
Calls for nuclear disarmament, climate-change solutions
Pope Francis called on world leaders to work in favour of nuclear disarmament to protect human rights, particularly those of weaker and underprivileged people.
Addressing the faithful Sunday in St. Peter’s Square, he stressed what he called “the strong link between human rights and nuclear disarmament.” Francis said working to protect the dignity of the weakest and most disadvantaged implies “also working with determination to build a world without nuclear arms.” He urged people to put intelligence and technology at the “service of peace and true progress.”
A strong crusader for the environment, Francis also expressed hope that people will realize the “need to adopt truly efficient decisions to fight climate change” while also combatting poverty.
Francis then cited the suffering from a cyclone in India that has left fishermen missing and from flooding in Albania.