Pope Leo issued a fresh plea for the Holy Land during his general audience, “beseeching” for the release of all hostages, the establishment of a permanent ceasefire, and safe passage for humanitarian aid. He further called for international humanitarian law to be fully respected, “in particular the obligation to protect civilians and the prohibitions of collective punishment and the forced displacement of the population.” The Pontiff stated he was joining his voice with the joint declaration of the Patriarchs of Jerusalem, who the day prior had demanded an end to the “spiral of violence and war” and urged that priority be given to the common good of the people.
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