Pope Francis wielded enormous global influence and his words often resonated beyond the Church.
That is why his comments on Israel’s war on Gaza were so significant. They marked a sharp break from the Vatican’s historically cautious stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Francis condemned attacks on civilians and directly criticised Israel, using words like “terrorism” and “genocide” – remarks that quickly drew backlash from Israel and its supporters. Al Jazeera’s Zein Basravi reports.
Xavier Abu Eid, a political scientist and former adviser to the Palestine Liberation Organization, says Palestinians have lost a dear friend with the death of Francis, whom he describes as a staunch defender of their right to self-determination.
Produced by: Al Jazeera English
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