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JERUSALEM (CNS) — Several U.S. Catholic bishops are returning from a nine-day pilgrimage to the Holy Land where they met with Israeli and Palestinian religious and political leaders, spent time meeting local residents and prayed at holy sites. One of them never expected to see such destruction and suffering.

Pope Francis wrote a message regarding war to a world summit of more than 300 religious leaders. The Sept. 7-9 global summit aims to create an international alliance of religions dedicated to peace and dialogue and to countering fundamentalist ideologies and violence.

Pope Francis telephoned Israeli President Shimon Peres and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, both of whom he "considers to be men of peace and who want peace," urging all sides to end hostilities. The pope told the leaders that the conflict was creating "numerous victims and was giving way to a state of serious humanitarian emergency."

Catholic leaders in the Holy Land called for an end to the cycle of violence and criticized Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories and its collective punishment of Palestinians.

At the end of a recent unofficial pre-induction briefing for about 30 young men preparing to join the Israeli army, the participants stood and, led by Greek Orthodox Father Gabriel Nadaf, recited the Our Father in Arabic with hands outstretched. They finished by making the sign of the cross.

Coveted as a spiritual and political capital by both Israelis and Palestinians, the status of the city of Jerusalem has stood out as one of the pivotal topics in their ongoing peace negotiations.

JERUSALEM (CNS) -- The Israeli government and leaders of Hamas must make courageous decisions to end the violence that has once again forced residents of Southern Israel into their bomb shelters and residents of the Gaza Strip into their homes, said Auxiliary Bishop William Shomali of Jerusalem.