Pope Paul VI today expressed his support of the “legitimate aspirations” of the Palestinian people. In a letter to Magi. John Nolan, president of the Pontifical Mission for Palestine, the Pope said: “The Palestinians are particularly dear to us because they are the people from the Holy Land, because some of them are followers of Christ and because they have endured and continue to endure many tragic sufferings.”
The Pontiff added that for years the Palestinian refugees have lived in inhuman conditions. He said “such conditions have provoked frustration among many Palestinians and in some cases caused such anxiety and despair that they were driven to act of violent protest which we deplore with sadness.”
The Pope expressed the hope that the Palestinian problem would be discussed at the next peace negotiations on the Middle East and that a solution would be found. The Pope sent the letter to Magi. Nolan on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Palestine Mission.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
