Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin: Many Christians around the world do not enjoy minimum level of religious freedom

MIDDLE EAST — On the sidelines of a seminar held by the Italian Senate on the late Cardinal Achille Silvestrini, Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin stated that the failure to take the necessary measures to contain the conflicts may entail the risks of extension to other regions.

Parolin expressed concern about the recent attacks by the Houthis in the Red Sea, escalation in Gaza, and the recent Iranian missile attack on Erbil of Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

He stressed that the Holy See sees in the two-state solution a way out of the crisis in Gaza, which is categorically rejected by Hamas Movement.

He stressed that it is necessary to seek room for negotiation in order to reach this solution.

Parolin declared that the Holy See is also committed to finding peaceful solutions to the ongoing conflict, although its activity is limited to the humanitarian dimension, stressing the Vatican’s readiness to participate in the conference called by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

With regard to Christians’ persecution around the world, Parolin stated that there are 365 million people are subjected to violence and persecution because of their religious beliefs, and this is a great concern to the Holy See.

He added that there are many Christians around the world who do not enjoy the minimum level of religious freedom, which is a fundamental right of all religions.