The Vatican has announced, without providing details, that Pope Francis is scheduled to meet with Mahmoud Abbas, the President of the Palestinian Authority, on Thursday, December 13. This news comes as the leader of the world's Catholics has intensified his criticism of the Israeli military operations in Gaza. Last month, in a controversial statement, the Pope called for the global community to pay attention to Israel's military campaign in Gaza, questioning whether it constitutes a 'genocide of Palestinians.' This statement from Pope Francis, which is set to be published in a new book, prompted a strong and negative reaction from the Israeli ambassador to the Vatican. Israel claims that the 'genocide accusations' are baseless and that the country is only targeting members of the extremist group Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups. According to Gaza officials, over the 14 months of Israeli military operations in the enclave, more than 45,000 Palestinians have been killed and at least 106,000 wounded. While this densely populated area faces a serious risk of famine, most of its 2 million residents have been displaced. Pope Francis and Mahmoud Abbas have met several times before. The two leaders spoke by phone in November 2023, one month after the start of Israeli military operations in Gaza. As the spiritual leader of 1.4 billion Catholics, the Pope usually tries to remain neutral in conflicts; however, he has recently taken a critical stance regarding Israeli military operations. Two months ago, he condemned what he described as the 'shameful inability of the international community to end the war.' Pope Francis has emphasized that he is in daily contact with the Catholic community in Gaza and has also criticized what he calls Israel's 'immoral' actions in attacking Lebanon. Mahmoud Abbas is also scheduled to meet and discuss with Sergio Mattarella and Giorgia Meloni, the President and Prime Minister of Italy, during his visit this week.
Palestinian Authority President to Meet with Pope Francis During Visit to Italy
Pope Francis is set to meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Italy amid rising criticism of Israeli military actions in Gaza. The Pope's recent remarks questioning whether these actions amount to genocide have sparked controversy and backlash from Israel. This meeting highlights the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the international response to the conflict.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Pope Francis is set to meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Italy, amid rising criticism of Israeli military actions in Gaza. The Pope's recent comments questioning whether these actions amount to genocide have sparked controversy.
- Pope Francis has intensified his criticism of Israeli military operations in Gaza, calling for global attention to the situation.
- Over 45,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed during the Israeli military operations in Gaza over the past 14 months.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been ongoing for decades, with recent escalations leading to significant humanitarian crises in Gaza. The Vatican's involvement highlights the intersection of religion and geopolitics.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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