Pope Condemns Saudi-Led War in Yemen

Pope Francis, ahead of his historic and unprecedented Sunday visit to the Arabian Peninsula, issued his strongest condemnation to date of the Saudi Arabian-led war in Yemen.

According to Sputnik, during Sunday mass in Vatican City, the Pontiff declared that he is following the news of the war in Yemen with deep concern, and urged all sides to swiftly halt hostilities as millions suffer disease, starvation and the destruction of their homes, towns and families.

“The cry of these children and their parents rise up to God,” Pope Francis stated to the thousands listening in St. Peter’s Square and the millions listening online around the world, according to Reuters.

Pope Francis has brought renewed attention to the ongoing war in Yemen, even as a deadly cholera outbreak and continued military operations decimate the population of the poorest nation in the Middle East.

“Let us pray strongly because they are children who are hungry, who are thirsty, they don’t have medicine and they are in danger of death,” he said, prior to boarding a plane bound for the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi.

With the first visit by a Pope to the Middle East, observers have expressed doubt that he will address the disturbing humanitarian crisis in such strongly-worded terms while within the nation’s borders, according to Reuters.

H.M