VATICAN CITY (AP) 鈥� called for 鈥渄eep reflection鈥� in the United States about the treatment of held in detention, saying that 鈥渕any people who have lived for years and years and years, never causing problems, have been deeply affected by what is going on right now.鈥�
The Chicago-born pope was responding Tuesday to a range of geopolitical questions from reporters outside the papal retreat at Castel Gandolfo, including what kind of spiritual rights should have, U.S. military attacks on suspected and in the Middle East.
Leo underlined that scripture emphasizes the question that will be posed at the end of the world: 鈥淗ow did you receive the foreigner, did you receive him and welcome him, or not? I think there is a deep reflection that needs to be made about what is happening.鈥�
He said 鈥渢he spiritual rights of people who have been detained should also be considered,鈥欌�� and he called on authorities to allow pastoral workers access to the detained migrants. 鈥淢any times they鈥檝e been separated from their families. No one knows what鈥檚 happening, but their own spiritual needs should be attended to,” Leo said.
Leo last month urged labor union leaders visiting from Chicago to advocate for immigrants and welcome minorities into their ranks.
Asked about the lethal attacks on suspected drug traffickers off Venezuela, the pontiff said the military action was 鈥渋ncreasing tension,鈥欌�� noting that they were coming even closer to the coastline.
鈥淭he thing is to seek dialogue,鈥欌�� the pope said.
On the Middle East, Leo acknowledged that the first phase of the peace accord between Israel and Hamas remains 鈥渧ery fragile,鈥欌�� and said that the parties need to find a way forward on future governance 鈥渁nd how you can guarantee the rights of all peoples.鈥欌��
Asked about Israeli n the West Bank, the pope described the settlement issue as 鈥渃omplex,鈥欌�� adding: 鈥淚srael has said one thing, then it鈥檚 done another sometimes. We need to try to work together for justice for all peoples.鈥欌��
Pope Leo will receive Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the Vatican on Thursday. At the end of November he will make his first trip as Pope to Turkey and Lebanon.
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