Pope criticizes Trump’s decision to move US embassy to Jerusalem

Pope Francis joined a chorus of negative reactions to Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of the Jewish state and move its embassy there.

By: Batya Jerenberg, World Israel News

In advance of US President Donald Trump’s speech on Wednesday regarding the status of Jerusalem, Pope Francis said he was “profoundly concerned” about the decision to move the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

At the end of his weekly general audience, attended by thousands of people, the Pope called for the status quo on Jerusalem to be preserved, saying that he was very worried because the American decision could “[add] new elements of tension to a global panorama” that is already marred “by so many and cruel conflicts.”

The US president had called many of the country’s allies to inform them of his decision ahead of the announcement.