The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today offered its condolences to the Catholic community and Christians around the world on the passing of Pope Francis and commended his legacy of compassion for the poor and opposition to war crimes, including the Israeli government’s bombing in Gaza, which he again condemned the day before his passing.
In a statement, CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said:
“To God we belong, and to God we return. We extend our condolences to the Catholic community and Christians around the world on the passing of Pope Francis. The American Muslim community and many Muslims around the world appreciated Pope Francis’ emphasis on the compassionate treatment of migrants and others facing crisis, his efforts to uphold the traditional values of his faith while maintaining a respectful tone, and his consistent condemnation of war crimes around the world, including in Gaza.
“The political leaders around the world who are mourning Pope Francis today should heed his calls for them to end any injustices their governments support, starting with the Trump administration and its support for the Israeli government’s genocide in Gaza.”
Earlier this year, CAIR commended Pope Francis for denouncing the Israeli government’s war crimes in Gaza after he released a speech calling the humanitarian crisis in Gaza created by Israel “very serious and shameful.”
CAIR previously welcomed a statement by Pope Francis condemning the “cruelty” of Israel’s genocide in Gaza and a call by the Pope for an investigation to determine whether Israel has committed “genocide” in Gaza.
SEE: Pope Francis’ Passing: His Key Statements on Gaza and the Ongoing Genocide – Palestine Chronicle
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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com