Pope Francis expressed concern over the escalating violence in Lebanon and Gaza during his in-flight press conference on September 29, following his papal visit to Luxembourg and Belgium.
He condemned the disproportionate use of military force, stressing that defense must be measured against the level of aggression. “Defense must always be proportionate to the attack,” the Pope said, as he reflected on the rising tensions in the region.
While responding to questions about the targeted strike that killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut, the pontiff said that excessive retaliation crosses moral lines.
āA country that, with its forces, does these thingsā¦ in such a āsuperlativeā way, these are immoral actions,ā Pope Francis remarked.
The Pope further explained that while war is inherently immoral, certain rules must still be followed. “Even in war, there is morality to be safeguarded,” he said, noting that disproportionate force signals “a domineering tendency that goes beyond morality.”
In the press briefing, Pope Francis also disclosed that he has been in daily contact with the Catholic parish in Gaza, where over 600 people are currently sheltering. “They tell me about the things that are happening, including the cruelty that happens there,” he shared.
Pope Francis did not directly name a specific country during his comments but maintained that any nation that engages in actions deemed disproportionate violates basic moral principles.
āWhen there is something disproportionate, you see the ābad bloodā of these things,ā he said, referencing a phrase from his Argentine heritage.
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