Pope Leo XIV made another call for an end to violence in the Middle East during his weekly general audience at St Peter’s Square on Wednesday.
    “May the wounds caused by the bloody events of recent days be healed,” the American pontiff said.
    He said “all logic of arrogance and revenge” should be rejected “May the path of dialogue, diplomacy, and peace be chosen with determination,” the pope said.
    Leo added that “the world should not turn its gaze away from Syria,” after Sunday’s “cowardly terrorist attack” on the Greek Orthodox church of Mar Elias in Damascus.
    “To the Christians of the Middle East I say: I am close to you, the whole Church is close to you,” he added.