Vatican denounces killing of Israeli youths

July 01, 2014

The Vatican has decried the killing of three young Israeli seminary students who were abducted while hitchhiking on June 12 and found dead on June 30.

“The news of the killing of the three young abducted Israelis is terrible and dramatic,” said Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Holy See Press Office.

“The assassination of innocent people is always an execrable and unacceptable crime, and a very serious obstacle on the path towards the peace for which we must tirelessly continue to strive and pray,” he continued. “Violence begets violence, and feeds the vicious circle of hatred.”

“Pope Francis participates in the unspeakable suffering of the families struck by this homicidal violence and the pain of all persons afflicted by the consequences of hatred, and prays that God might inspire all with thoughts of compassion and peace,” Father Lombardi concluded.

 

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Further information:

• Dichiarazione del Direttore della Sala Stampa a proposito dell’uccisione di tre giovani israeliani (Holy See Press Office)
• Israel launches Gaza air strike after bodies of missing teens found (Reuters)