Pope, in Message to Shazar, Expresses Deep Concern over Peace Talk Impasse

Pope Paul VI, in a message to President Zalman Shazar of Israel published here today, expressed deep concern over the “difficulties” that have arisen in connection with the Jarring peace talks in New York and expressed to the Israeli Chief of State, “our ardent desire that nothing be left undone to ensure the maintenance of the truce and to advance the talks.” The Pontiff’s message was dated Vatican City. Sept. 15, 1970. He wrote: “As the news of the truce and the first contacts at New York gave us grounds for Joyful hope, so we are deeply worried at the fresh difficulties which have now arisen. Convinced as we are of the vital importance of a stable, peaceful and fair settlement with the aim of preventing the rekindling of a conflict in which even more blood would be shed, and which would be even more fraught with unforeseeable consequences, and deeply saddened at the sufferings of the peoples concerned, we feel impelled to turn to your Excellency and to all those in other countries who have responsibility for making decisions in order to express our ardent desire that nothing be left undone to ensure the maintenance of the truce and to advance the talks.” The Pope’s message continued. “Peace is so great and surpassing a blessing that it demands from every party a readiness to make sacrifices and to accept them with courageous farsightedness for the sake of an agreement that will take account of all the demands of justice and humanity. We are strengthened in our hope by the support given by the agreement of men and women throughout the world, but in a special way we are given assurance by the prayerful thought which we keep turned to The Lord, the living fount of justice and peace whose holy name of Father is called upon in your part of the world as elsewhere by so many millions of human beings who believe and hope in Him.”