PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia and Australia have voiced their support for Pope Leo’s call for peace, justice and an end to atrocities in the Middle East.
At a joint press conference, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said both he and his Australian counterpart, Anthony Albanese, hold the Pope’s appeal for global peace in high regard.
"Well, Albanese is a Catholic, I’m a Muslim, but we share something in common: we have very high regard and respect for Pope Leo. He expressed the voice of conscience.
"We have followed the Pope's recent statements and share his desire for peace, for justice, and for an end to atrocities," said Anwar at the Perdana Putra Complex here on Thursday (April 16).
Anwar added: "I think any reasonable or sane person, and even I as a Muslim and Malaysians generally, certainly support the position taken by the Pope.
"I think people across the world should support the call for peace and oppose any form of injustice or atrocities.
"Whether he (the Pope) made the reference specifically to Gaza or to the situation in the Middle East, or for that matter, to the aftermath of the Israeli and American attack on Tehran and Iran," said Anwar.
Meanwhile, Albanese said he was honoured to have had an audience with Pope Leo a year after his inaugural Mass.
"I found him a very thoughtful, dignified, and extraordinary person who will provide leadership not just to the Catholic Church but will be a very significant figure in global affairs, as was his predecessor, Pope Francis," said Albanese.
"Right now, we are seeing the consequences of conflict — a conflict on the other side of the world. Everyone is aware of it now. There are consequences of conflict, including the loss of innocent life, but there are also extraordinary economic consequences affecting people everywhere at the moment.
"That is why we will continue to argue for de-escalation and for a resolution through dialogue rather than through military action," added the Australian Prime Minister.
US President Donald Trump has criticised Pope Leo twice, suggesting that the pontiff was unaware of Iran’s repressive actions against its own people and reiterating his broader criticism of the Catholic leader.
