The Pope implicitly criticizes Israel for using "immoral" and "disproportionate" violence

On the flight back to Rome after his visit to Luxembourg and Belgium, Pope Francis implicitly criticized Israel for its attacks in Gaza and Lebanon. When asked by one of the journalists accompanying him on the plane about the recent bombings in Beirut, in which Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah lost his life, the Pontiff responded that "defense must always be proportional to the attack." When acting "disproportionately," one goes "beyond morality." "A country that does these things with its forces," said Jorge Mario Bergoglio, emphasizing that he was referring to "any country," and acts in a "superlative manner," commits "immoral actions." Even in war, the Pope highlighted, there must be a "morality to protect" and "rules to follow." When this does not happen, there is "bad blood."

In his response to reporters' questions about the Middle East situation, Francis once again reminded that he calls the parish of Gaza every day to learn firsthand how members of the small Catholic community in the Strip and the displaced people sheltered in the church complex are living. "There are more than 600 people there, parish and school, and they tell me about the things that happen, even the cruelties that occur there," commented the Pope, who also had words for the ecclesial pedophilia crisis that has so greatly affected the Church of Belgium. He insisted on the "shame" that covering up abuses entails.