During a visit to the Emirates, the Pope criticizes the war in Yemen.
Pope Francis criticized the "logic of armed power" in Yemen, Syria and other wars in the Middle East during a historic visit to the Arabian Peninsula, the birthplace of Islam; it is the first time a pontiff has visited the peninsula; "war can create nothing but misery, weapons bring nothing but death," he said; after meeting with leaders of the United Arab Emirates in the capital Abu Dhabi on Monday (4), he expressed hope to promote peace through religious dialogue.
247, with Reuters - Pope Francis criticized the "logic of armed power" in Yemen, Syria, and other wars in the Middle East during a historic visit to the Arabian Peninsula, the birthplace of Islam.
The first pontiff to visit the peninsula, Pope Francis said that "war can create nothing but misery, weapons bring nothing but death." After meeting with leaders of the United Arab Emirates in the capital Abu Dhabi on Monday (4), the Pope said he hopes to promote peace through religious dialogue.
"The fateful consequences of wars are before our eyes. I am thinking especially of Yemen, Syria, Iraq and Libya," he said during an interfaith meeting at the Founders' Memorial in the United Arab Emirates.
"We will commit ourselves against the logic of armed power," he said in his first public statement of the trip, after meeting with Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Egypt's Al-Azhar mosque, who called on Muslims in the Middle East to "embrace" Christians.
The nearly four-year war in Yemen, the poorest country on the Arabian Peninsula, has already left tens of thousands dead and almost 16 million people facing severe famine. In the conflict, a coalition led by Saudi Arabia and loyal to the deposed president Abd-Rabbu Mansour is fighting the Houthi group, aligned with Iran.
The United Nations (UN) is attempting to implement a fragile ceasefire agreement in the country's main port, Hodeidah, vital to millions of people and the site of some of the war's most violent battles. The UN hopes the agreement will pave the way for negotiations to end the conflict.
The Grand Imam, the most important Muslim figure present during the visit, urged Muslims in the Middle East to "embrace" local Christian communities, describing them as part of the nation and not a minority.
"You are citizens with full rights and responsibilities," said Sheikh Tayeb, whose Al-Azhar University is one of the leading centers of learning for Sunni Islam. He also urged Muslims in the West to integrate into the countries where they live and respect local laws.