The Secretary of State of the Vatican, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, defended that the creation of a Palestinian State “seems even more valid” after the war in Gaza while regretting the lukewarm of the international community by pointing out that “it is not enough to declare that it is unacceptable” and then allow it.
“The creation of a Palestinian State seems even more valid today in the light of the events of the last two years. It is the path of two villages in two states, which the Holy See has supported from the beginning,” said the Secretary of State of the Vatican in an interview with the Official Gazette of the Vatican L’Osservatore Roman.
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His statements coincide with the second anniversary of the terrorist attack perpetrated by Hamas against Israel that marked the beginning of the war that swept the Gaza Strip.
The head of the Vatican diplomacy applauded that many countries in the world have recognized the state of Palestine. However, he observed “with concern” that Israel’s statements and decisions “are moving in the opposite direction, that is, aiming to definitively prevent the possible creation of a real Palestinian state.”
In this sense, Cardinal Parolin insisted that the international community “must do much more.” “Some international actors could influence this tragedy and must find ways to give the UN a more effective role in resolving conflicts,” he said.
Similarly, he considered that the situation in Gaza is even “more serious and tragic than a year ago, after a devastating war that has left tens of thousands of dead.”
“It impacts me and saddles the daily count of dead in Palestine: tens, sometimes hundreds, including many children whose only guilt seems to have been born there. Dead people looking for a piece of bread, buried under the debris of their homes, bombarded in hospitals and camps of displaced people,” lamented the Purpurado Italian.
He added: “It is unacceptable and unjustifiable to reduce people to mere collateral victims.”
Questions the legality of supplying weapons to Israel
He also condemned that “countries capable of influencing have not stopped the massacre” and questioned the legality of supplying weapons to Israel. “It is necessary to question the legality of continuing to supply weapons that are used against the civilian population,” he said.
In any case, he said that the attack of Hamas of October 2023 was “inhuman and unjustifiable” and asked not to forget the hostages that follow in the hands of the terrorist group.
“I express all my closeness, praying daily for their suffering and ensuring everything possible so that they can meet with their loved ones or, at least, to receive a worthy burial who have died,” he said.
He also regretted the resurgence of anti -Semitism in the world and described it as a “sad and unjustified” consequence of misinformation and simplification of reality.
In this regard, he stressed that the dissemination of false news and the simplistic interpretation of the facts – particularly those related to the conflict in Gaza – have led to unfairly blaming the Jews. “It is not like that: there are also many voices of the Jewish world in dissent with the actions of the Israeli government,” he said.
Anti -Semitism is a cancer “which must be fought and eradicated”
Thus he said that anti -Semitism is a cancer “that must be fought and eradicated.” Cardinal Parolin also said that the plan presented by the president of the United States, Donald Trump, to achieve a truce in Gaza must be “welcomed and supported.”
On the other hand, he recalled that the Holy Father has also asked that the parties “accept to start a path to peace.”
Cardinal Parolin spoke about the recent demonstrations in support of Gaza, underlining the importance of citizen participation and youth commitment in the search for peace.
Although he assured that, although the violent acts of a few can distort the message of these mobilizations, it was moved by “participation in demonstrations and the commitment of so many young people”, considering that they represent a sign that “we are not condemned to indifference.”
“We must take that desire for peace and commitment seriously: this depends on our future and that of our world,” he added.
Before the criticism of some who argue that Christians must limit themselves to prayer and not participate in protests, Cardinal Parolin replied: “I am baptized, believer and priest: daily prayer is essential, but the Christian faith demands action concrete He Pope León invited us to pray the Rosary for Peace on October 11. Prayer calls for commitment, testimony and concrete decisions. There is a silent majority, including many young people, who do not give up before dehumanity. They are also called to pray, but we must act. ”
Victoria Cardiel
Victoria Cardiel is a journalist specialized in social and religious information issues. Since 2013, he has covered all the news of the Vatican for various media, such as the Spanish news agency Europa Press, or the weekly of the Archdiocese of Madrid, Alfa and Omega.