In a meeting in the Vatican Wednesday morning with the families of Israelis being held by Hamas, Pope Francis vowed to work for their release through both official and non-official channels. “The Pope promised to work with governments and religious leaders, including Muslim leaders, to bring back the sons,” said a statement by the Israeli Foreign Ministry.
The Gaza-based terror organization is holding the bodies of two soldiers killed in 2014’s Operation Cast Lead, Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul, as well as two live prisoners, Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed, two men with mental health issues who crossed over the border in 2014 and 2015, respectively.
The pontiff took the time to speak to every family member during the 45-minute visit, and he was especially empathetic to the victims’ mothers, saying, “It is so difficult to comfort a mother’s tears,” according to the Israeli embassy to the Vatican.