Pope endorses G-8 declaration on Middle East

Published: 2006-07-19

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI endorsed a Group of Eight declaration that criticized the militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah for fueling an escalation in fighting and urged Israel to exercise restraint. "I find myself in full agreement with the G-8 communique," the pope said July 18 during his vacation in the Alpine village of Les Combes in northern Italy. He said the statement, issued by the leaders of seven industrialized nations plus Russia at the end of their summit July 17 in St. Petersburg, Russia, seemed to be the path to take to end the violence. When reporters asked what the international community should do concerning the growing Middle East conflict, the pope said, "I have nothing else to add other than the importance of prayer so that God may help us." Meanwhile, the head of the Vatican's justice and peace council, Cardinal Renato Martino, also lent his support to the G-8 declaration.

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