VATICAN CITY (AP) 鈥� Pope Leo XIV urged the warring sides in the to 鈥渞eject the logic of bullying and revenge鈥� and choose a path of dialogue and diplomacy to reach peace as he expressed solidarity with all Christians in the Middle East.
Speaking at his weekly Wednesday general audience, the American pope said he was following 鈥渨ith attention and hope鈥� recent developments in the war. He cited the biblical exhortation: 鈥淎 national shall not raise the sword against another nation.鈥�
A ceasefire is holding in the 12-day Iran-Israel conflict, which involved and on Iranian nuclear sites. Iran has long maintained that is peaceful.
鈥淟et us listen to this voice that comes from on High:鈥� Leo said. 鈥淗eal the lacerations caused by the bloody actions of recent days, reject all logic of bullying and revenge, and resolutely take the path of dialogue, diplomacy and peace.鈥�
The Chicago-born Leo also expressed solidarity with the victims of in Damascus, Syria and urged the international community to keep supporting Syrian reconciliation. Syria鈥檚 Interior Ministry has said a sleeper cell belonging to the Islamic State group was behind the attack at the Church of the Holy Cross in Damascus, which
鈥淭o the Christians in the Middle East, I am near you. All the church is close to you,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his tragic event is a reminder of the profound fragility that still marks Syria after years of conflict and instability, and therefore it is crucial that the international community doesn鈥檛 look away from this country, but continues to offer it support through gestures of solidarity and with a renewed commitment to peace and reconciliation.鈥�
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