Pope Francis has called for the “status quo” of Jerusalem to be “respected” in advance of Wednesday’s much-anticipated speech by U.S. President Donald Trump, in which he is expected to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Israel.
“I make a heartfelt appeal so that all commit themselves to respecting the status quo of the city in conformity with the pertinent resolutions of the United Nations,” said the pontiff,” according to Reuters.
In remarks at the end of his weekly general audience Wednesday, the pope said, “I cannot keep quiet about my deep worry about the situation that has been created in the last few days,” adding he wishes “wisdom and prudence prevail in order to avoid addindg new elements of tension to a global panorama that is already convulsed and marked by so many cruel conflicts.”
The pope has supported the two-state solution but has been a clear supporter of Palestinian Authority positions; during his 2015 visit to Israel he made a highly politicized tour of the Bethlehem side of the security barrier that was built to end deadly Arab suicide bombings that maimed and murdered so many Israelis.
