Pope Francis on Sunday called for an
end to the Israel-Hamas war and insisted that further escalation
of the conflict must be avoided.
"I continue to think about the extremely serious situation in
Palestine and Israel where so many people have lost their
lives," said the Pope during the Sunday Angelus prayer and
blessing at the Vatican.
"In the name of God, I beg you to stop: cease fire," he
continued.
Francis also said he hoped "all avenues are pursued" to prevent
a widening of the conflict sparked by the October 7 Hamas
attack against Israel.
"May the wounded be helped and aid reach the population of Gaza,
where the humanitarian situation is very serious," continued the
pope.
"The hostages should be freed immediately. Among them are many
children: let them return to their families.
"Let us think of the children, of all the children caught up in
this war as well as in Ukraine and in other conflicts: in this
way their future is being killed," he insisted.
"Let us pray for the strength to say 'Enough"".
During the Angelus, the pope also prayed for the victims of the
earthquake in Nepal on Friday night and for the victims of
fierce storms and flooding in Europe, including in Italy.
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