Post by Tulameen on Jul 17, 2006 11:36:16 GMT -5
Reuters, in The Times of Malta
Pope Benedict yesterday condemned "terrorist" acts and reprisals in Lebanon and Israel, saying the violence was unjustifiable.
Pope Benedict, in his first public comments on the escalating crisis, said that violations "of law and justice" at the root of the conflict could not be used to sanction bloodshed.
He called on both sides to resume dialogue. "The causes of such fierce confrontation are unfortunately objective situations of violation of law and justice," Pope Benedict said, speaking from his holiday retreat in the Aosta valley.
"But neither the terrorist acts nor the reprisals, above all when there are tragic consequences for the civilian population, can be justified." Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo Sodano on Friday singled out Israel, calling its strikes on Lebanon an attack on a sovereign and free nation. He also expressed his closeness to the Lebanese people. Pope Benedict said yesterday he was deeply concerned about violence in Lebanon, which has been pounded by Israeli air strikes. But he also cited the Hizbollah guerillas' attack yesterday on the Israeli city of Haifa, which killed eight people.
Pope Benedict yesterday condemned "terrorist" acts and reprisals in Lebanon and Israel, saying the violence was unjustifiable.
Pope Benedict, in his first public comments on the escalating crisis, said that violations "of law and justice" at the root of the conflict could not be used to sanction bloodshed.
He called on both sides to resume dialogue. "The causes of such fierce confrontation are unfortunately objective situations of violation of law and justice," Pope Benedict said, speaking from his holiday retreat in the Aosta valley.
"But neither the terrorist acts nor the reprisals, above all when there are tragic consequences for the civilian population, can be justified." Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo Sodano on Friday singled out Israel, calling its strikes on Lebanon an attack on a sovereign and free nation. He also expressed his closeness to the Lebanese people. Pope Benedict said yesterday he was deeply concerned about violence in Lebanon, which has been pounded by Israeli air strikes. But he also cited the Hizbollah guerillas' attack yesterday on the Israeli city of Haifa, which killed eight people.