Pope Francis, noting
the 70th anniversary of the Allied victory over Japan Wednesday,
made a powerful appeal for an end to all war and a halt to the
persecution of Christians and of minorities.
Speaking to a crowd of 15,000 excited pilgrims, tourists
and the faithful at his weekly audience after entering St
Peter's Square in his open top "popemobile" jeep, the pontiff
also urged an end to the trafficking of weapons which he said
are "bathed in the blood of so many innocent people".
"No more war, ever!" said Francis, expressing in a strong
voice the wish that "the world won't have to undergo the horrors
and frightful suffering of similar tragedies".
Straying from his prepared remarks for the audience, the
101st of his pontificate, the Argentine pope also recalled "the
persecuted minorities, the persecuted Christians, the madness of
destruction," and lashed out at "those who produce, who traffic
weapons -- bloodied weapons, arms covered in blood, arms covered
in the blood of innocent people".
Francis paid tribute to the "yearning" of the "victims of
the various bloody conflicts under way".
The Jesuit pontiff, who later this month will travel to the
American cities of Philadelphia, New York and Washington, also
spoke out against what he called the "desertification" of the
modern city, saying the relationship between the family and God
is the antidote.
"The alliance of the family with God is called today to
combat the community desertification of the modern city," he
said.
"Our cities have become deserts for lack of love, lack of
smiles -- so much fun, so many, many things to lose time and
make people laugh. But love is missing".
"It's exactly the family, that dad, that mum who works,
with the children, the smile that a family is capable of, that
can beat this desertification of our cities," the pope said.
"And this is the victory of family love".
The throng gave the Roman Catholic leader a tumultuous
welcome as he circled the vast square in front of St Peter's
Basilica under partly cloudy skies, imparting blessings and
kissing babies held out to him as he beamed broadly from the
popemobile under tight security.
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