Dr. Ramzi Khouri, member of the PLO Executive Committee and head of the Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs in Palestine, extended heartfelt congratulations to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV on his election as the new head of the Vatican and successor to Saint Peter, following the papacy of Pope Francis.
In an official cable, Dr. Khouri expressed his deep confidence that Pope Leo XIV will continue to uphold the Church’s noble spiritual and humanitarian mission, advocating for peace, justice, and human dignity across the globe. He emphasized the importance of this mission in regions burdened by ongoing wars, particularly in the Holy Land Palestine, the cradle of the Nativity and a land still yearning for the dawn of freedom and justice.
He underscored the significance of the Vatican’s historic support for the rights of the Palestinian people, calling on the new pontiff to preserve and strengthen this principled stance. “The Vatican has long stood with the oppressed and defended the sanctity of human rights,” Khouri stated. “We urge Your Holiness to continue this legacy, to advocate boldly for an end to the brutal Israeli occupation, for a just and lasting peace, and for the protection of holy sites and the right to worship freely for all people, without discrimination. Justice, after all, is not only a political imperative, it is a moral commandment and a divine duty.”
Dr. Khouri concluded: “We pray that God grants Your Holiness the wisdom and fortitude to guide the Catholic Church through these trying times, to build bridges between peoples, promote love and tolerance, and stand firmly with the poor and the persecuted everywhere, especially in Palestine, where our people have endured a relentless campaign of genocide, destruction and displacement for over 19 months.”
