VATICAN CITY: Pope Leo hopes that a plan to end the war in Gaza would soon reach the “desired results,” he said on Sunday after acknowledging the significant steps made in negotiations to end the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Speaking during his weekly Angelus prayer, the pontiff asked all relevant parties to commit to the peace process, emphasizing the urgent need to end the conflict and establish a “just and lasting peace.”
“In recent hours, amid the dramatic situation in the Middle East, some significant steps forward have been taken in the peace negotiations, which I hope will soon achieve the desired results,” the pope told faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square.
He also renewed calls for a permanent ceasefire in the nearly two-year conflict and the release of hostages held in Gaza.
Pope Leo, the first US pope, was elected by the world’s cardinals in May to replace the late Pope Francis and has been more cautious about speaking out against the Gaza conflict than his predecessor.
His role in advocating for peace in Gaza, however, has become more stark since Israel struck the territory’s only Catholic church in July. On Tuesday the pontiff praised US President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan for Gaza and expressed hope that the Palestinian militant group Hamas would endorse it.
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Pope Leo hopes Gaza plan achieves ‘desired results’ soon
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Pope Leo hopes Gaza plan achieves ‘desired results’ soon
- Pontiff asks all relevant parties to commit to the peace process
Macron: French national held in Venezuela released
- Camilo Castro, a 41-year-old yoga teacher, disappeared on June 26 at the Paraguachon border crossing
PARIS: A French citizen who has been detained in Venezuela since late June has been released, President Emmanuel Macron announced on Sunday.
“Camilo Castro is free. I share the relief of his family and thank everyone who worked for his release,” the head of state wrote on the social media platform X.
Castro, a 41-year-old yoga teacher, disappeared on June 26 at the Paraguachon border crossing, which separates Venezuela from Colombia, where he lives.
He had gone to renew his expired Colombian residency visa, his family said in August.
In mid-September, Castro’s mother said she had not received any news from him other than a voice message at the end of July in which he “called for help.”
According to research conducted by his family and Amnesty International, he was being held by the Venezuelan authorities.
Amnesty has denounced what it said was a policy of “enforced disappearances” of opponents and foreign nationals since the electoral authorities declared President Nicolas Maduro winner of a disputed vote in July 2024.
“The Venezuelan authorities appear to be using this practice to justify their narratives about ‘foreign conspiracies’ and as a bargaining chip for use in negotiations with other countries,” it wrote in a report published in July.
“Camilo Castro is free. I share the relief of his family and thank everyone who worked for his release,” the head of state wrote on the social media platform X.
Castro, a 41-year-old yoga teacher, disappeared on June 26 at the Paraguachon border crossing, which separates Venezuela from Colombia, where he lives.
He had gone to renew his expired Colombian residency visa, his family said in August.
In mid-September, Castro’s mother said she had not received any news from him other than a voice message at the end of July in which he “called for help.”
According to research conducted by his family and Amnesty International, he was being held by the Venezuelan authorities.
Amnesty has denounced what it said was a policy of “enforced disappearances” of opponents and foreign nationals since the electoral authorities declared President Nicolas Maduro winner of a disputed vote in July 2024.
“The Venezuelan authorities appear to be using this practice to justify their narratives about ‘foreign conspiracies’ and as a bargaining chip for use in negotiations with other countries,” it wrote in a report published in July.
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