A leading Indian churchman has called for a full and definitive agreement between India and Pakistan for lasting peace following the latest clashed involving the two nations, says a report. “It is time to put an end to ancient resentments,” Cardinal Oswald Gracias told the Vatican’s Fides news agency. “Ours is a heartfelt appeal for peace in Kashmir. We hope for a full and definitive agreement, which would be important not only for India and Pakistan but for peace in the world,” said the retired archbishop of Bombay (Mumbai), capital of Maharashtra state in western India. India and Pakistan agreed a ceasefire on May 10 following four days of retaliatory attacks. The conflict was triggered by a terrorist attack in the disputed Kashmir region on April 22 that left 26 civilians dead, mostly Indian tourists. New Delhi blamed Islamabad for harboring terrorist groups and orchestrating the attack, which Pakistan denied. The resulting conflict between the nuclear-armed rivals left about 70 people dead. Muslim-majority Kashmir became part of India following an agreement between its Hindu maharaja and the Indian government after the British partition of India and Pakistan in 1947. Both India and Pakistan claim the territory in full and have fought two wars over the region. It is now divided into Indian-administered and Pakistani-administered territories separated by what is known as the Line of Control. Pope Leo XIV welcomed the ceasefire on May 11 and hoped that “a lasting accord may soon be reached.” Cardinal Gracias echoed the call and said that “it is time for peace.”
Spanish bishops speak out after leaks of their meeting with Leo XIV
The executive committee of the Spanish Bishops’ Conference, (CEE, by its Spanish acronym) meeting in Madrid this week, issued an official statement regarding the leaks
