Pope blasts escalation of Middle East violence on civilians

(ANSA) - Vatican City, October 9 - Pope Francis on Friday made an appeal for "reconciliation and peace in the Middle East" and blasted the violence civilians are being subjected to during an address to the synod on the family. "We are painfully struck and follow with great concern what is happening in Syria, Iraq, Jerusalem and the West Bank, where we are witnessing an escalation of violence involving innocent civilians that continues to feed a humanitarian crisis of enormous proportions," he said. "War brings destruction and multiples people's suffering.
    Hope and progress can only come from choosing peace". The pope also called for the conflicts be resolved via international law. "I, together with the synod, direct a heartfelt appeal to the international community to find an effective way to to help the interested parties to broaden their horizons beyond their immediate interests and use the instruments of international law to resolve the ongoing conflicts," he said.
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