A heartfelt appeal from Pope Francis for Jerusalem

My thoughts now turn to Jerusalem. In this regard, I cannot keep silent my deep concern for the situation that has been created in the past days. At the same time, I would like to make a heartfelt appeal for everyone’s commitment to respect the city’s status quo, in conformity with the pertinent United Nations Resolutions.

Jerusalem is a unique city, sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims, who venerate the Holy Places of their respective religions, and it has a special vocation to peace.

I pray to the Lord that its identity is preserved and strengthened for the benefit of the Holy Land, the Middle East and the whole world and that wisdom and prudence prevail to prevent new elements of tension from being added to a global context already convulsed by so many cruel conflicts.

Pope Francis

(December 6, 2017)