Pope Francis engages in a telephone conversation with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who expresses his gratitude for Pope Francis's peace-building efforts and encourages him to persist in advocating for a ceasefire.

On Thursday afternoon, Pope Francis and Mahmoud Abbas had a telephone discussion, as reported by Matteo Bruni, the Director of the Holy See Press Office.

According to the Palestinian news agency Wafa, President Abbas conveyed his appreciation for Pope Francis's role in promoting peace-building within the region.

President Abbas also emphasized the vital significance of the Vatican's continued efforts to secure an immediate ceasefire, underscoring the importance of sparing civilians from the horrors of war.

According to Wafa reports, Mahmoud Abbas further highlighted the urgency of establishing permanent humanitarian corridors to facilitate the delivery of medical and food supplies, as well as the provision of water and electricity to Gaza.

Since the onset of the conflict on October 7, Pope Francis has consistently called for peace on multiple occasions.

He has stressed the need for an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages held by Hamas, and the facilitation of humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza.

Pope Francis maintains daily communication with the Parish of the Holy Family in Gaza, through Father Youssef Asaad, the assistant parish priest, Sister Nabila Saleh from the Sisters of the Rosary in Jerusalem, and the parish priest himself, Father Gabriel Romanelli, who is currently situated in Bethlehem.

In recent days, specifically on October 22 and 26, he also held telephone conversations with US President Joe Biden and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. During these conversations, he emphasized the necessity of finding paths to peace and discussed his aspirations for achieving a two-state solution with a special status for Jerusalem.