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Catholic World News News Feature

Pope leads day of prayer for Mideast peace July 24, 2006

Pope Benedict XVI prayed for a "just and lasting peace" in the Middle East on Sunday, July 23: a day that he had dedicated to worldwide prayers for that cause.

Speaking to about 3,000 people who had gathered outside the chalet where he is vacationing in the Alpine village of Les Combes, the Holy Father renewed his appeal to "the pastors, the faithful, and all believers to beg God for the gift of peace."

The Pope called for an immediate ceasefire, the opening of access to humanitarian relief services, and international leadership in new efforts to open negotiations that could lead to a lasting settlement.

Pope Benedict made a point of affirming "the right of the Lebanese to the sovereign integrity of their nation, the right of Israelis to live in peace in their state, and the right of Palestinians to have a free and sovereign country."

The Pope offered a special word of sympathy for "the unarmed civilian populations, unjustly struck by this conflict in which they are merely victims." In this category he placed both the people of Galilee who were struck by Hezbollah rocket attacks and the great majority of civilians in Lebanon "who, once again, see their land destroyed."

In the face of a seemingly intractable conflict, the Pope said, prayers are needed to break the deadlock, giving leaders "the daring for dialogue."

Speaking to an Italian television audience about the Pope's public appearance, Joaquin Navarro-Valls-- who resigned earlier this month as director of the Vatican press office, but accepted the Pope's invitation to join him for vacation-- remarked that "diplomacy is not enough" to resolve the conflict. "We must also touch everyone's conscience," he said, summarizing the papal message.