Mahmoud Abbas expresses gratitude to Pope Francis
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas thanked Pope Francis for his support for peace.
Today, Thursday, December 12, Pope Francis, the leader of the world's Catholics, met with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in person at the Vatican for the first time in three years. They spoke privately for half an hour, but the Vatican did not provide details about their private discussions.
The meeting between Pope Francis and Mahmoud Abbas took place at a time when the Pope had recently been highly critical of Israel's military attacks in Gaza. In a statement, Mahmoud Abbas thanked Pope Francis for his support for achieving a just peace in the Palestinian territories based on a two-state solution.
While Pope Francis, the leader of the world's Catholics, continues to avoid taking sides in conflicts, he recently spoke very openly about the war in Gaza. He has always expressed concern about the issue of peace in Palestine and the situation of the people of Gaza. The Pope has also repeatedly emphasized in his speeches the need for dialogue, peaceful coexistence, and respect for human rights.
Pope Francis has stressed the need to end the violence and work towards finding just and lasting solutions in the region. Last month, he suggested that the international community investigate whether Israel's campaign in Gaza constitutes genocide, a comment that drew criticism from the Israeli ambassador to the Vatican.
It should be noted that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas will be in Rome for a short visit this week and is also scheduled to meet with the President and Prime Minister of Italy.
