Pope Francis recently had a difficult conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Isaac Herzog, urging him to avoid responding to violence with further violence in the ongoing conflict in Israel. The Israeli president shared details of the meeting with The Washington Post, including their discussion on the current situation. During the conversation, the pope emphasized that the use of violence in response to violence is condemned.

In response, the Israeli president reaffirmed his commitment to protecting the population from the actions of Hamas. He stated that his country is taking all necessary measures to safeguard its citizens from the violence. The pope, on the other hand, emphasized the importance of holding those responsible for violence accountable, while also highlighting the need to protect the civilian population.

Reports suggest that the conversation was constructive, although Israel criticized the pope’s statement, questioning whether it referred to the Israeli military operation as “violent.” Vatican sources clarified that the dialogue took place in October and was part of a series of discussions aimed at de-escalating the conflict in the Holy Land. According to a Vatican source, the phone conversation and others during that period were focused on addressing the tensions in the region.

The Israeli president’s office chose not to comment on the conversation, citing its confidential nature and declining to provide further details. As news develops, the situation in Israel continues to be closely monitored.