Pope Francis said Sunday that he stands with the family of Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin, whom Hamas terrorists kidnapped on Oct.7 and murdered in late August.
The pontiff has maintained a policy of neutrality during the war triggered by the Oct. 7 Hamas massacre, repeatedly decrying victims from both sides.
“I pray for the victims and continue to be close to all the families of the hostages,” Francis said before singling out the mother of the American-born hostage who was among six executed last month. “Rachel’s humanity struck me.
“I think of the mothers who have lost sons to war, how many young lives have been cut short,” he added. “I stand with Rachel during this time.”
The pope again called for the end of the war and the release of the approximately 100 hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza.
Last week, Francis had condemned the killing of Palestinian children in an Israeli attack targeting Hamas terrorists in Gaza as “ugly.”
