Associating himself with those committed to assisting the people of Gaza, and with the Pastors who lead the Churches throughout the Holy Land, Pope Leo repeated once again, “There is no future based on violence, forced exile, or vengeance!”

“Peoples need peace,” he proclaimed, adding that “those who truly love them work for peace.”

The Holy Father made his remarks immediately following the Angelus on Sunday, offering his first greetings to representatives of “various Catholic associations committed to solidarity with the people of the Gaza Strip.”

“Dear friends,” he said, “I appreciate your initiative and the many others throughout the Church that express closeness to our brothers and sisters suffering in that tormented land.

Pope Leo has been consistent in his calls for peace. At last week’s Angelus, the Holy Father expressed his “deepest sympathy to the Palestinian people in Gaza, who continue to live in fear and to survive in unacceptable conditions, forced – once again – from their lands.”

Invoking “the Almighty Lord, who commanded ‘Thou shalt not kill’” and calling “all humanity” to bear witness, Pope Leo declared, “Every human person has an inviolable dignity which must be respected and protected.”

He went on to renew his calls for “a ceasefire, the release of hostages, a negotiated diplomatic solution, and full respected international humanitarian law,” before inviting everyone to join him in his prayers “that a dawn of peace and justice may soon arise.”