"I pray for the victims and I am close to all those who suffer," said the Pope at the end of a meeting at the Vatican. "That's why I submit a new request, with a vengeance on all parties to launch efforts for peace and dialogue in an effort to stop the bloodshed again. The violence and hatred will always lose."
Pope also has asked his envoy, Cardinal Peter Kodwo Turkson, to be allowed entry into Cote d'Ivoire "to show my solidarity." Turkson has been stuck in Ghana because of widespread conflict in Côte d'Ivoire.
The crisis in Ivory Coast is now entering the crucial stage when troops loyal to President Alassane Ouattara bunker attack his rival, Laurent Gbagbo, in Abidjan. According to recent reports, many journalists and foreign diplomats requested evacuation assistance. Ouattara is recognized by the international community.
The Pope has repeatedly warned about the increasing violence in Libya. "I convey heartfelt appeal to the international organizations and those with political responsibilities and the military to launch a dialogue that will immediately suspend the use of weapons," he told pilgrims at the Vatican last month.
"At very high tensions, become more urgent to use every diplomatic method that exist and to support even very weak signals of openness and desire for reconciliation of all parties involved," he added.
After the commencement of an international military operation to implement no-fly zone in Libya, the pope has urged world leaders to ensure "the safety of citizens of Libya and ensure access to humanitarian aid." The Vatican's official newspaper, Osservatore Romano, has previously said, France has been "too hasty" to launch military operations against the regime of Libyan leader Moammar Qaddafi and said there were "big mess" in the strategy.
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