Pope Francis has renewed his call for a two-state solution in the Israel-Palestine conflict, stating that without it, “true peace remains distant.”

His comments were made during an interview with Italian newspaper La Stampa, where he also discussed the deadly conflict in the Middle East and his concerns about the potential for military escalation.

The Pope’s call for a two-state solution refers to the Oslo Accords, a peace agreement brokered by Norway and signed by Israel and the Palestinian Liberation Organization in the 1990s. However, the agreement has yet to be fully implemented.

Pope Francis expressed hope for ongoing confidential meetings aimed at reaching a truce in the Hamas-Israel war. He referred to talks in Paris involving representatives from Israel, Qatar, the United States, and Egypt. Hamas, however, is not directly participating in these discussions.

Role of the Holy See and Rights to Peace

The Pope also addressed the role of the Holy See in the ongoing conflict, highlighting the efforts of Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, in mediating the situation. He also spoke about the rights of Christians and the people of Gaza to live in peace and the importance of securing the release of Israeli hostages.

In the same interview, Pope Francis also discussed the Ukraine conflict, the concept of a “just war,” and the importance of dialogue and solidarity in achieving peace.

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