Vatican City – Pope Francis called for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of all Israeli hostages in an Easter speech on Sunday in which he denounced the suffering caused by wars.
Pope Francis presided over the Mass in St. Peter’s Square, filled with attendees and decorated with flowers, and gave his blessing (to the city and the world) from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.
Pope Francis (87 years old) has suffered from health problems in the past few weeks, which forced him to limit speaking at events and cancel some of his engagements, as he did on Good Friday when he decided not to participate in a procession in the Colosseum in Rome shortly before the event.
But he participated normally in the activities of Holy Week that preceded Easter and appeared in relatively good condition at Sunday Mass.
The Pope repeatedly expressed his sadness at the killing and destruction in the Gaza war and repeated his call for a ceasefire on Sunday.
He said in his speech, “I call again to ensure the possibility of humanitarian aid reaching Gaza, and I again urge the immediate release of the hostages kidnapped on October 7th, and an immediate ceasefire in the Strip.”
He added, “How much suffering do we see in the eyes of children?” These children have forgotten how to smile in these warlands. With their looks, they ask us: Why? Why all this death… Why all this destruction? Wars are nothing but futility and defeat.”
The Pope’s Easter message usually focuses on international affairs, and on Sunday he mentioned other hot spots in the world, including Ukraine, Syria, Lebanon, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Haiti, Myanmar, Sudan, the Sahel and Horn regions of Africa, Congo and Mozambique.
Source: Ruiners
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2024-04-02 08:05:34