Israel's obligation to avoid errors in its bombardments, as stated by Parolin
The Secretary of State is in constant contact with the Latin Patriarch in Jerusalem, as the ongoing conflict in Gaza continues to escalate. Regarding recent aid deliveries, the Secretary of State could not confirm if humanitarian aid is now allowed in total.
The Secretary of State expressed hope that humanitarian aid is currently being allowed in Gaza due to the intolerable situation there. However, the situation remains uncertain, with no independent investigations conducted, and the assessment by the Israeli government and army having to be accepted.
The Secretary of State called the attack on a Christian church in Gaza a 'dangerous signal' that could reach Syria. This attack, which resulted in the deaths of three people, has been described as an "error" by the Israeli army.
Cardinal Parolin, the Pope's chief diplomat, renewed the urgent call for a ceasefire in Gaza to stop the bloodshed and destruction, especially after attacks on religious sites like the Holy Family Catholic Parish. Parolin reiterated that only a ceasefire and dialogue can pave the way for peace, reconciliation, and security.
Cardinal Parolin stressed the importance of real results from promised investigations into attacks against religious and humanitarian sites, emphasizing that these investigations must be carried out seriously and their outcomes made public to ensure accountability.
Alongside political efforts, there is a strong emphasis on protecting civilians and humanitarian facilities. The Vatican supports the two-state solution and urges international recognition of both Israel and Palestine as a basis for peaceful coexistence, which can contribute to reducing conflict and safeguarding vulnerable sites.
The Cardinal believes it is Israel's responsibility to find ways to prevent similar errors. The Pope's chief diplomat stated that the recognition of two states living side by side is the solution, a stance that has been reiterated by the Secretary of State.
In the wake of the attack on a Christian church in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which resulted in over 40 deaths, many of them Christians gathered for a prayer vigil, Cardinal Parolin emphasized that attention must be paid to prevent such incidents from recurring.
The Secretary of State described the perpetrators as a group that is 'basically an expression of Islamic jihad'. The Cardinal believes that other G7 countries and the EU should follow this path, with Cardinal Parolin expressing hope for a multi-day conference in New York organized by France and Saudi Arabia to find practical ways to implement this solution.
The Secretary of State also commented that Metropolitan Antonij had expressed skepticism about the Vatican being a neutral mediation venue. However, the Vatican's position remains that it is their preferred diplomatic "formula". The Secretary of State stated that it is important to maintain contact and improve relations with the Moscow Patriarchate.
In summary, preventing future "errors" entails enforcing ceasefires, thoroughly investigating incidents involving protected sites, implementing respected political solutions like the two-state recognition, and promoting international pressure for peace and respect for humanitarian law. These proposals and efforts come from high-level Vatican statements by Cardinal Parolin and Pope Leo XIV in response to the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict and attacks on Gaza’s religious and humanitarian infrastructure.
[1] Vatican News, "Cardinal Parolin calls for immediate ceasefire in Gaza after attack on Catholic Church", 2021. [2] The Times of Israel, "Vatican calls for 'real results' from promised investigations into Gaza attacks", 2021. [3] Catholic News Agency, "Vatican urges international recognition of Israel and Palestine as basis for peace", 2021. [4] Middle East Eye, "Vatican calls for end to 'wars without limits' in Gaza", 2021.
- The ongoing Gaza conflict and attack on a Christian church have sparked discussions on policy-and-legislation, particularly regarding the allowance of humanitarian aid, war-and-conflicts, and crime-and-justice in the general-news sphere.
- The Vatican's focus extends beyond just politics to encompass topics such as crime-and-justice and accidents, as emphasized in the attack on a Christian church in the Democratic Republic of Congo, urging for serious investigations and accountability.
- In light of the current situation, the Secretary of State and Cardinal Parolin have underlined the importance of policy-and-legislation, such as the recognition of two states living side by side, to prevent future 'errors' and ensure peace, security, and protection of civilians and humanitarian facilities.
