Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Friday spoke with His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV, to exchange greetings for the Passover and Easter holidays.
During the conversation, President Herzog extended his warmest wishes for the Easter holiday to Christian communities across the Middle East and around the world.
Over the course of the conversation, Herzog and the Pope discussed the war with Iran, including the ongoing threat of missile attacks by the Iranian regime and its terror proxies against people of all faiths in the region. President Herzog recalled the recent Iranian missile attacks on Jerusalem that fell in the area of sites holy to Christians, Muslims, and Jews.
They also spoke about the situation in Lebanon, including the importance of the safety and security of Christian communities on both sides of the border. President Herzog emphasized that the Hezbollah terror organization cannot be allowed to continue threatening both the people of Israel and Lebanon, who both deserve a future of peace and stability.
President Herzog expressed to Pope Leo XIV the great importance of the State of Israel’s relationship with the Holy See, the Catholic Church, and Christians around the world. He also underscored the importance of the cooperation of all world and religious leaders in the crucial fight against antisemitism.
Both sides expressed their shared hope for a more peaceful future for people of all faiths across the world, free from the threat of violence and bloodshed.