Pope Francis speaks during the weekly general audience, at the Vatican, November 22, 2023. Vatican Media/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo
Pope Francis has drawn criticism from Jewish groups for comments they interpreted as accusing both Hamas and Israel of “terrorism.” The Pope made these remarks after separate meetings with Jewish relatives of hostages held by Hamas and Palestinians with family ties in Gaza.
During his general audience in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis expressed empathy for both sides, stating, “This is not war. This is terrorism.” He urged prayers to prevent further escalation fueled by passions that ultimately lead to more casualties.
The Council of the Assembly of Italian Rabbis (ARI) issued a strong statement accusing the Pope of publicly labeling both sides as terrorists. The ARI further criticized unspecified “Church leaders” for not condemning the Hamas attack and for seemingly equating the aggressor with the attacked in the name of impartiality.
At a Palestinian news conference, individuals who met with the Pope reported that he condemned Hamas’ actions as terrorism but also emphasized that terror should not justify further acts of terror. They quoted him using the term “genocide” to describe the situation in Gaza.
Jewish organizations, including the American Jewish Committee (AJC) and the Simon Wiesenthal Center, called for clarification from the Vatican. The AJC acknowledged the Pope’s meetings with hostage families but requested clarity on his characterization of the Israel-Hamas conflict as “beyond war” and as “terrorism.” The Simon Wiesenthal Center emphasized that the suffering since October 7th stemmed from the actions of Hamas.
Cardinal Matteo Zuppi defended Pope Francis, asserting that the Pope was not placing everyone on the same plane. Zuppi stated that the Pope understands the motivations of the Israeli government. Amidst the tensions and differing interpretations, the Italian rabbis questioned the value of decades of Jewish-Christian dialogue when faced with what they perceived as diplomatic acrobatics in response to attacks on Jews.
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