Pope pleads for an end to Gaza fighting

May 21, 2007 / 09:37 am

On Sunday at the conclusion of the recitation of the Regina Coeli in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Benedict XVI commented on the current conflict in the Gaza Strip and called for an end to the tragic violence.

“Once more, in the name of God,” the Pontiff said, “may this tragic violence come to an end.”

Addressing the “Palestinian and Israeli” peoples, the Pope said, “I desire to express my solidarity and the assurance of my prayerful remembrance.”

"I appeal to the sense of responsibility of all the Palestinian authorities that, in dialogue and firmness, they take up again the difficult path of understanding, neutralizing the violent,” he added.

The Pope continued: "I invite the Israeli government to moderation and exhort the international community to multiply efforts for the re-launching of negotiations.”

Following armed encounters between rival Palestinian factions, Israel launched an attack in reprisal for the firing of rockets into its territory.  The Israeli attack left three dead.