From Ukraine to Gaza, the Pope Francisco On Sunday, he reviewed the different conflicts plaguing the world and urged, during his Easter message in the Vatican, not to give in “to the logic of weapons.”
“Let us not allow the ongoing hostilities to continue seriously affecting the already exhausted civilian population, and especially the children. How much suffering we see in their eyes. With their gaze they ask us: why? Why so much death “Why so much destruction?” he asked during his “urbi et orbi” blessing.
“War is always an absurdity and a defeat. Let us not allow the winds of war to blow ever stronger over Europe and the Mediterranean. Let us not give in to the logic of weapons and rearmament,” added the Argentine pontiff. .
Pope Francis led Easter Vigil after concerns about his health
Before some 60,000 faithful, the 87-year-old Argentine Jesuit cited a dozen countries, both from the Middle East (Lebanon, Syria) and Africa (Sudan, Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of the Congo), including Haiti and Burma. He also mentioned the “dialogue” that Armenia and Azerbaijan have undertaken.
The pope also reiterated his call for the liberation of the Israeli hostages and an immediate ceasefire in Gazaat a time when a new round of negotiations for a truce between Israel and Hamas begins.
He also asked for a “general exchange of all prisoners between Russia and Ukraine”, at war since February 2022, when Moscow invaded the former Soviet republic.
In addition, he urged leaders to spare no efforts to “combat the scourge of human trafficking, working tirelessly to dismantle its networks of exploitation and lead those who are its victims to freedom.”