Pope Benedict XVI Blog

Pope calls for truce in Gaza Strip

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10 hours ago

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday decried the "endless" bloodshed in the Holy Land and urged all sides to end violence as Israel continued its deadly assault on Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip.

Benedict told pilgrims in St. Peter's Square he feels deep sorrow for "the dead, wounded, property damage, suffering and tears of the populations who are victims of this tragic succession of attacks and retaliation."

The pontiff condemned the attacks and renewed his Christmas Day appeal that negotiations replace "the perverse logic of clashes and violence."

Israeli warplanes dropped bombs and missiles Sunday on dozens of targets across the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip in continuing attacks that a Gaza health official says have killed 280 Palestinians and wounded 600 others.

"The homeland of Jesus cannot continue to be witness to so much bloodshed, which repeats itself endlessly," Benedict said from his studio window overlooking the square.

"I implore an end to that violence, which must be condemned in all its manifestations, and the restoration of the truce in the Gaza Strip," the pontiff said.
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posted by Dr. Denice Hanley, DPM, M.Div. @ 5:31 PM