"Pope Francis Urges Israel to Reject 'Terror' in Conflict with Hamas"

In an undisclosed phone call, Pope Francis warned Israeli President Isaac Herzog against responding to terror with terror during the recent conflict in Gaza. The call, which has not been previously reported, influenced Israeli interpretations of the pope's subsequent statement that the conflict had "gone beyond war" and was "terrorism." While the Vatican declined to clarify whether the pope was publicly or privately describing Israeli actions as terrorism, pro-Israel groups have criticized his comments, sparking controversy and rekindling historical tensions between some Jewish leaders and the Vatican. The pope's remarks have raised concerns among pro-Israel organizations about his potential influence on global sentiment and Jewish-Catholic relations.