Pope Francis used his annual Christmas Day message to pray for a peaceful two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Speaking just days after members of the United Nations condemned US President Donald Trump's move to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, the Pope prayed for the "peaceful coexistence of two states within mutually agreed and internationally recognized borders."
"We see Jesus in the children of the Middle East who continue to suffer because of growing tensions between Israelis and Palestinians," Francis said in his "Urbi et Orbi" message Monday. "Urbi et Orbi" is Latin for "to the city (Rome) and to the world."
"On this festive day, let us ask the Lord for peace for Jerusalem and for all the Holy Land. Let us pray that the will to resume dialogue may prevail between the parties and that a negotiated solution can finally be reached.
"May the Lord also sustain the efforts of all those in the international community inspired by good will to help that afflicted land to find, despite grave obstacles, the harmony, justice and security that it has long awaited."
The Pope also urged followers to pray for peace in Syria and Iraq while highlighting the struggles of the children of Yemen, an ongoing conflict "that has largely been forgotten," he said.
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