Pope calls for peace in Jerusalem in Christmas message

By Ecenur Colak

VATICAN CITY

Pope Francis on Monday called for a negotiated two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

In his traditional Christmas Day message, the pope spoke out on the Middle East crisis reignited by Trump’s decision.

“Let us pray that the will to resume dialogue may prevail between the parties and that a negotiated solution can finally be reached, one that would allow the peaceful coexistence of two states within mutually agreed and internationally recognized borders,” he said.

Addressing tens of thousands of people from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, he added: “We see Jesus in the children of the Middle East who continue to suffer because of growing tensions between Israelis and Palestinians.”

His comments came four days after 128 countries backed a UN resolution against the new U.S. policy on Jerusalem.

Shortly after Trump’s Dec. 6 announcement, Francis issued a call for Jerusalem’s status quo to be respected to prevent further conflict.

The pope also touched on the crisis in Myanmar and Bangladesh, where hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims are sheltering, having fled a brutal crackdown by the Myanmar security forces.

Recalling his recent trip to the region, the pope urged the international community “to ensure that the dignity of the minority groups present in the region is adequately protected.”

Focusing on children caught up in conflict, Francis called on people to think of their suffering in Syria, Iraq, Yemen, South Sudan, Somalia, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the African Republic, Ukraine Venezuela.

The pope also referred to migrants and comparing them to Mary and Joseph seeking a place to stay in Bethlehem. Faith demanded that foreigners be welcomed, he told the crowd in his in his “Urbi et Orbi” (“to the city and to the world”) speech.