#BreakingNews Pope Francis Phones President Joe Biden about Israel and Gaza especially for Access to Humanitarian Aid and Peace - FULL TEXT



On the afternoon of October 22nd, Pope Francis phoned the President of the United States, Joe Biden. The call lasted approximately 20 minutes. The Vatican Press Office made this known, explaining that "The conversation, which lasted about 20 minutes, focused on conflict situations in the world and the need to identify paths to peace.”
FULL TEXT - Readout of President Biden’s Call with His Holiness Pope Francis
Today, President Joseph R. Biden spoke with His Holiness Pope Francis to discuss the latest developments in Israel and Gaza. The President condemned the barbarous attack by Hamas against Israeli civilians and affirmed the need to protect civilians in Gaza. He discussed his recent visit to Israel and his efforts to ensure delivery of food, medicine, and other humanitarian assistance to help alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. They also discussed the need to prevent escalation in the region and to work toward a durable peace in the Middle East.
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DEATH TOLL - According to EuroNews: At least 4,651 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas on 7 October, the Palestinian movement's health ministry said on Sunday.
At least 1,873 children are among the dead, according to the ministry, which also recorded 14,245 injured - with 70% of them being children and women. (Hundreds of Christians are living in Gaza and have sought refuge in Churches)  
These deaths, caused for the most part, by Israel, were in retaliation for the Hamas attack launched on October 7th against Israel which left 1,400 dead and 200 hostages.
Pope Francis reiterated a call for prayer, fasting and penance on October 27th for peace. After his Sunday Angelus prayer he said:
Once more my thoughts turn to what is happening in Israel and Palestine. I am very concerned, grieved. I pray and I am close to all those who are suffering: the hostages, the wounded, the victims and their relatives. I think of the serious humanitarian situation in Gaza and I am saddened that the Anglican hospital and the Greek-Orthodox parish have also been hit in recent days. I renew my appeal for spaces to be opened, for humanitarian aid to continue to arrive, and for the hostages to be freed.
War, any war that there is in the world – I also think of tormented Ukraine – is a defeat. War is always a defeat; it is a destruction of human fraternity. Brothers, stop! Stop!
I remind you that next Friday, 27 October, I have proclaimed a day of fasting, prayer and penance, and that evening at 18.00 in Saint Peter’s Square we will spend an hour in prayer to implore peace in the world.
Sources: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/10/22/readout-of-president-bidens-call-with-his-holiness-pope-francis/ - EuroNews and Vatican News

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