Tel Aviv [Israel], April 3 : Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Friday spoke to Pope Leo XIV and exchanged greetings for Passover and Easter. He also discussed the conflicts in West Asia and the Gulf region--particularly Iran and Lebanon and called for cooperation of all world and religious leaders in the fight against anti-semitism.
Sharing the details in a post on X, the Israeli President said, "During our call, we 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. I recalled the recent Iranian missile attacks on Jerusalem that fell in the area of sites holy to Christians, Muslims, and Jews. The people of Iran also deserve a better future free from this dangerous and violent regime of terror."
He added that discussions also took place about the situation in Lebanon, including the importance of the safety and security of Christian communities on both sides of the border.
"I 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", Herzog said.
He also expressed to Pope Leo XIV the importance of Israel's relationship with the Holy See, the Catholic Church, and Christians around the world and underscored the importance of the cooperation of all world and religious leaders in the crucial fight against antisemitism.
"I extended my warmest wishes for the Easter holiday to Christian communities across the Middle East and around the world. We expressed our shared hope for a more peaceful future for people of all faiths across the world, free from the threat of violence and bloodshed", the Israeli President further noted.
https://x.com/Isaac_Herzog/status/2040004097995096428?s=20
Citing a statement released by the Holy See Press Office on the call between the leaders, Vatican news reported that Israeli President Herzog and Pope Leo XIV discussed, "the need to reopen all possible channels of diplomatic dialogue was reaffirmed, in order to bring an end to the serious ongoing conflict, with the hope of achieving a just and lasting peace throughout the Middle East."
It further noted that the Holy See Press Office note said that attention was focused on the importance of protecting the civilian population and promoting respect for international and humanitarian law.
The call between the leaders comes amid the backdrop of Passover and Easter festivities, with the conflict in West Asia in its entered its second month now.