Cardinal Parolin’s interview in the Vatican’s official newspaper, given on the occasion of October 7, has not gone over well with Israel. The Israeli embassy to the Holy See published its criticisms of the cardinal’s words with this message.
Israel claims the interview was well-intentioned but, at the same time, points out that his responses risk undermining efforts to end the war. This transpired while negotiations are taking place in Egypt based on Donald Trump’s peace plan.
The discontent stems from three specific points. First, they say Parolin focused on criticizing Israel. Secondly, they believe he overlooked Hamas’s refusal to release the hostages.
Third and perhaps most controversial, they disagree with the use of the term “massacre”, which, according to the embassy, equates Hamas’s terrorist attacks with Israel’s legitimate right to self-defense.
The Vatican’s statement came directly from the Pope, just a few hours later. The press asked Pope Leo XIV about the message, and the pontiff responded with his full support for his number two.
POPE LEO
I prefer not to comment right now. The cardinal has expressed very well what, let’s say, is the Holy See’s view on the matter.
The first thing Parolin did in the interview was condemn the terrorist attacks of October 7 — something that both the diplomat, the Holy See, and the popes have done from the beginning of the conflict.
The brutal violence perpetrated against children, women, young people, and the elderly cannot be justified in any way. It was an unworthy massacre and, I repeat, inhumane.
Then Cardinal Parolin emphasized that a state has the right to defend itself. However, this is where he goes on to underline the importance of proportionality, which became the source of Israel’s displeasure.
The cardinal said he was dismayed by the number of deaths in Palestine following Israel’s response to the 2023 Hamas attack, and he considers it unacceptable to define this population as collateral victims.
Dozens, sometimes hundreds — countless children whose only crime seems to be having been born there: we run the risk of becoming accustomed to this carnage! People killed while trying to reach for a scrap of bread, people buried beneath the rubble of their homes [...]. It is unacceptable and unjustifiable to reduce human beings to mere 'collateral victims'.”
Thus where the controversy begins. According to the Israeli embassy, Israel's actions cannot be compared to Hamas's actions.
There is no moral equivalence between a democratic state that protects its citizens and a terrorist organization that tries to kill them. We hope that future statements reflect this important distinction.
Regarding the release of Israeli hostages by Hamas, Parolin said he's deeply moved by the images of prisoners held captive in tunnels, starving. He once again offered Israel the assistance of the Holy See in whatever it needs.
I express my deepest condolences, I pray daily for your suffering, and I assure you of our full availability to do everything possible so that you may be reunited with your loved ones safe and sound — or, at the very least, recover the bodies of those who were killed so that they may be buried with dignity.
In fact, families of both Israeli and Palestinian hostages have visited the Vatican on more than one occasion. They previously met with Pope Francis in the hope that the visibility of this meeting might help them to return home.
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