Pope Laments mideast violence

VATICAN CITY, JUly 2, 2006 (Zenit.org)

Benedict XVI called for peace and justice in the Mideast , where he says recent violence is becoming a "growing concern."

The Pope made his comment today after praying the Angelus with the crowds gathered in St. Peter's Square.

Some 62 people died in Iraq on Saturday when a suicide car bomber attacked a crowded open-air market in a poor Shiite neighborhood of Sadr City .

In the Gaza Strip, five Palestinian fighters have been reported killed ever since Israeli soldiers and tanks took up positions in southern Gaza on Wednesday to pressure Palestinians to free a kidnapped soldier.

Benedict XVI said: "In the face of the blind violence that causes atrocious killings, on one hand, and, on the other, the threat of the aggravation of the crisis which for the past few days has been even more tragic, justice is necessary and a serious and credible commitment to peace which, unfortunately, are not perceived.

"Therefore, I invite all to join in confident and persevering prayer that the Lord may enlighten hearts and that no one exempt himself from the duty to build a peaceful coexistence, in recognition that each man is a brother, regardless of the nation to which he belongs."