Pope Francis calls for preserving the identity of Jerusalem

Pope Francis has urged that the identity of Jerusalem be preserved as a city of peace so as to give way to a future of reconciliation and hope for the entire region.

This came in a message sent by the pontiff to the international conference on Jerusalem, held in Cairo under the auspices of Al-Azhar, which is considered the highest Sunni authority on Islam. The message was read out at the conference by Egyptian Catholic priest Yoannis Lahzi.

This is the only hope for those who consider themselves believers, those who do not stop praying for a future of brotherhood for all, he added in his message.

Read: Israel halts press conference about Jerusalem held in the city

Earlier this month Pope Francis addressed ambassadors from over 180 countries at the UN General Assembly and reiterated his call to respect the status quo of Jerusalem following US President Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

The pontiff will not stop praying for peace, and he prays that all those who head civil and religious bodies across the world work towards avoiding tension, the message read.

Pope Francis also called for the resumption of dialogue between Palestinians and Israelis to find a solution that creates peaceful coexistence for two states with mutually agreed and internationally recognised borders. He also called for respecting the special nature of the city of Jerusalem, the value of which transcends negotiations over land.