Pope Calls for Negotiations on Two-State Solution for Israel and Palestine

Pope Francis, the leader of Catholics worldwide, called for the resumption of negotiations for a two-state solution in the Middle East and an end to the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians during his Christmas speech at the Vatican. His remarks on Monday, December 25, come after Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel sparked widespread reactions in the Middle East. The speech, known as "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and to the world), follows a resolution supported by 120 countries at the United Nations General Assembly urging the U.S. to reconsider its decision on Jerusalem. According to Reuters, Pope Francis, referring to Palestinians and Israelis, said: "Let us pray that negotiations between the parties are resumed so that they may finally lead to a solution that results in peaceful coexistence agreed upon between the two countries and within the framework of internationally recognized borders." Addressing tens of thousands from the balcony overlooking St. Peter's Square, he added: "We see Christ in the faces of the children of the Middle East who continue to suffer due to the rising tensions between Israelis and Palestinians." This is the second time the Pope has publicly spoken about Jerusalem following Trump's decision on December 6. He called for respect for the "status quo" of the city. Palestinians seek recognition of East Jerusalem as the capital of their future independent state, while Israel has declared the entire city as its "undivided and eternal" capital. In his remarks on Monday, the Pope urged people to see the defenseless Christ in the faces of children suffering from war, migration, and natural disasters caused by human actions. He stated: "Today, as the winds of war blow in our world... Christmas calls us to see the infant Christ in the faces of children, especially those who, like Christ, have 'no place to lay their head.'" The Pope, celebrating his fifth Christmas as pontiff, mentioned finding Christ in the faces of children he met during his recent trip to Myanmar and Bangladesh. He called for sufficient support for the dignity of minorities in the region, noting that over 600,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled Myanmar to Bangladesh in recent months. He also urged the world to see Christ in the innocent children suffering from war in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen, lamenting that the people in these areas have been "widely forgotten, facing serious humanitarian challenges, suffering from hunger and disease outbreaks." The Pope defended the rights of migrants and refugees in another Christmas speech, likening the situation of Mary and Joseph to that of migrants and refugees, stating that respecting and accepting foreigners is essential to faith.