Pope Renews Call for Peace in Holy Land

VATICAN, Oct 22, 01 (CWNews.com) - During his Angelus audience on Sunday, October 21, Pope John Paul II renewed his call for peace in the Holy Land, expressing his "deep sorrow" over the escalation of bloodshed in Palestinian towns on the West Bank.

The Pope spoke of "the worrisome news from Bethlehem and from Beit Jala and Beit Sahour," where Israeli troops have moved forcefully in to Palestinian neighborhoods. The Holy Father mourned that "war and death have arrived even to the plaza of the Basilica of the Annunciation" in Nazareth.

"In the name of God," the Pope said: "I repeat again: Violence is for everyone only a path towards death and destruction."

Catholic World News Service - Daily News Briefs
22. oktober 2001