Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - "Please let us continue to pray for peace," is the appeal that Pope Francis launched at the end of the Angelus prayer with the pilgrims and believers gathered in St. Peter's Square. With this, the Pope asks to invoke God for the gift of peace, "especially in Ukraine, Palestine, Israel and Lebanon, so that the escalation may be stopped and respect for human life, which is sacred, be put in first place!".
"The first victims are among the civilian population: we see this every day. Too many innocent victims! Every day we see images of slaughtered children. Too many children! Let us pray for peace," said the Pope, also mentioning the International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent in Geneva on the 75th anniversary of the Geneva Convention.
"May this event awaken consciences so that, during armed conflicts, the life and dignity of people and peoples, as well as the integrity of civil structures and places of worship, are respected, in accordance with international humanitarian law. It is sad to see how hospitals and schools are destroyed in war in some places," concluded Pope Francis.
Francis also condemned violence with a view to Mexico, where an indigenous priest was murdered in the state of Chiapas. He said he was close to the local people who mourned the priest: "May his sacrifice, like that of other priests killed for their fidelity to the ministry, be a seed of peace and Christian life." (F.B.) (Agenzia Fides, 27/10/2024)
