Pope Francis of Rome has accused Israel of carrying out a “genocidal campaign” in Gaza. He made these remarks during his visit to the Armenian Catholic Church, where he addressed the recent killings of two Armenian Christian women by Israeli military forces, according to Reuters.

In his weekly blessing, Pope Francis expressed his concerns about the ongoing violence in Gaza and the suffering endured by its inhabitants. He highlighted the dire conditions faced by the people, including children, the sick, and the disabled. The Pope emphasized that even within the holy compound of the Armenian community, there were no fighters but innocent families, children, patients, and disabled women.

Pope Francis strongly condemned the situation in Gaza, stating, “People will say, ‘This is war. This is a genocide.’ Yes, this is a war. This is a genocide.”

The representative of Israel’s Foreign Ministry responded by stating that the situation in Gaza is still under investigation and that the Pope currently has no comment on the matter.

Translator: Shakeh Avanessian