The Pope made another call for peace in the Middle East today:
VATICAN CITY, August 2 - Pope Benedict XVI issued an impassioned call Wednesday for an immediate cease-fire in the Middle East, saying "nothing can justify the spilling of innocent blood."
Clenching his fist and his voice filled with emotion, Benedict said: "Our eyes are filled with the chilling images of torn bodies of so many people, especially children - I am thinking in particular of Qana."
Benedict was referring to the Israeli attack Sunday in the southern Lebanese town of Qana that killed 56 civilians, mostly women and children.
It was the latest in a half-dozen peace appeals by the pope that have consistently included calls for an immediate cease-fire. He has spoken out on every public occasion since the fighting began three weeks ago, reminiscent of his predecessor, Pope John Paul II, who became a rallying point for critics of the Iraq war.
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The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has issued similar calls.
