Israel’s Embassy to the Holy See published a statement Oct. 7 accusing the Vatican of potentially “undermining” peace efforts in Gaza by “criticizing Israel” and not focusing enough on Hamas’ refusal to release hostages.
The statement followed an interview with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, which Vatican News released to mark the second anniversary of Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel and the beginning of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
In the interview, Cardinal Parolin had condemned Hamas’ attack and reiterated the numerous calls of both the late Pope Francis and Pope Leo for the terrorist group to release the Israeli hostages. He decried a rise in antisemitism as well, warning of the danger of seeing a repetition of the Holocaust. In addition, he reexpressed the Vatican’s condemnations, during both pontificates, of Israel’s “ongoing massacre” of Palestinians in Gaza.
The Embassy of Israel to the Holy See claimed in its statement that Cardinal Parolin’s remarks risk “undermining efforts to both end the war in Gaza and counter rising antisemitism.” The interview, the embassy asserted, “focuses on criticizing Israel while overlooking Hamas’ continued refusal to release hostages or stop the violence.”
“Most concerning is the problematic use of moral equivalence where it does not belong,” the embassy argued. “For example, the application of the term ‘massacre’ to both Hamas’ genocidal October 7th attack and Israel’s legitimate right to self-defense. There is no moral equivalence between a democratic state protecting its citizens and a terrorist organization intent on killing them. We hope that future statements will reflect this important distinction.”
Andrea Tornielli, editorial director for the Vatican Dicastery for Communication, reported that Pope Leo had been asked about the embassy’s accusation against his secretary of state, and replied simply: “The cardinal expressed the Holy See’s opinion very well.”
In addition, the Pope later made his own remarks along similar lines to those of Cardinal Parolin, as reported by Vatican News. “These have been two very painful years,” he said to journalists at the Villa Barberini in Castel Gandolfo in the afternoon of Oct. 7. “Two years ago, 1,200 people were killed in a terrorist attack. We must think about how much hatred exists in the world and begin to ask ourselves what we can do. In two years, around 67,000 Palestinians have been killed. We must reduce hatred, we must rediscover the ability to dialogue, to seek peaceful solutions.”
Pope Leo preached “respect for the dignity of every person,” calling it “the message of the Church.” He also reiterated his plea for Catholics to pray for peace, especially throughout the month of October.
Asked again about the Israeli Embassy’s statement against the Vatican’s position on Gaza, Pope Leo reiterated that “the Cardinal very clearly expressed the Holy See’s position on this matter.”
Readers can find a complete report on Cardinal Parolin’s interview marking the second anniversary of the Oct. 7 attack here.
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