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BARI – Pope Francis on Saturday led a summit of Christian leaders on the promotion of peace in the Middle East and said that building walls, occupation of territories and religious fanaticism would not solve the problems. conflicts in the region. that the "status quo" of the disputed city of Jerusalem should be respected, and supported a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian dispute. Francis summoned the summit in the city of Bari, south of Italy, which for centuries was a gateway to the Middle East and houses the relics of St. Nicholas, a venerated figure in the two western and eastern branches of Christianity
by the walls and manifestations of power will not lead to peace, but only the concrete desire to listen and engage in dialogue ", has he said in his second speech of the day, after a private meeting between religious leaders. That there is an end to some enjoying the sufferings of many. Israel says its fence and concrete fence in the West Bank has been built as a bulwark against Palestinian attacks while Palestinians say it is a land grabbing that can deny them. a state. Francis said all communities in the Middle East should be protected, "not just the majority". He also condemned religious extremism, claiming that many conflicts in the region had been fueled by "forms of fundamentalism and fanaticism that, under the guise of religion, desecrated the name of God, which is peace, and persecuted by secular neighbors ".
Francis spoke twice about Jerusalem, the holy city whose status is at the heart of a fierce conflict. Israel says that it is the united and eternal capital of the country while the Palestinians want East Jerusalem as the capital of any future state.
The pope declared that the "status quo" of Jerusalem as a sacred city for Jews, Christians and Muslims should be respected. Francis has already called all to honor the United Nations resolutions on the city. The Vatican expressed concern last year when Washington announced the transfer of its embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv.
The pope denounced the "terrible suffering", especially children, in Syria, where the seven-year war killed hundreds Thousands of people uprooted about 11 million others, including six million living abroad as refugees.
Saint Nicholas, who lived about 1,700 years ago in present-day Turkey, is venerated among orthodox Christians, including in Russia. is the ally of Syria in the civil war. The Russian Orthodox Church sent its number two to the Bari meeting.
Francis condemned "murderous indifference" and the "complicity silence of many" violence, specifically mentioning the arms industry. "You can not talk peace while you run secretly to store new weapons," he said.
An exodus of Christians fleeing conflict and hardship risked "disfiguring the very face of the region". on the waterfront with about 20 other Christian leaders, most of them Orthodox churches.
– Nampa-Reuters
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