By Charles Igwe
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State, has expressed deep concern over the widespread violations of international law, particularly in light of the renewed violence in the Gaza Strip – an issue Pope Francis condemned in his recent Angelus message.
“We are very concerned about the systematic violation of international law,” Cardinal Parolin stated, highlighting the Holy See’s alarm over escalating global conflicts.
His comments come as Israel’s Embassy to the Holy See responded to the Pope’s appeal via a post on X (formerly Twitter), insisting that Israel’s actions adhere to international law.
Speaking at the Vatican Longevity Summit held at the Augustinianum, Cardinal Parolin emphasized that Pope Francis’ call is an urgent plea for an end to hostilities and a renewed pursuit of dialogue and peace.
“Recently, we spoke with the Red Cross, and they too are facing immense challenges,” he revealed. “The bombing of civilians, the killing of humanitarian workers—these acts directly violate humanitarian law. And today, there is simply no respect for humanitarian law anymore. This is one of the great tragedies of our time.”
His remarks reflect growing Vatican frustration over the erosion of fundamental humanitarian principles in modern warfare, as conflicts across the world continue to inflict suffering on innocent populations.
