From Ukraine to Gaza, Pope Francis on Sunday, in his Urbi et Orbi blessing, gave a vast overview of conflicts in the world, renewing his call to “not give in to the logic of weapons” . “Let us not allow the ongoing hostilities to continue to seriously affect the civilian population who are now exhausted, especially children. How much suffering we see in their eyes. By their looks they ask us: why? Why so many deaths? Why so much destruction? », he said during his blessing “to the city and to the world” launched from Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome on this Easter Sunday, celebrated by 1.3 billion Catholics around the world.
“War is always an absurdity and a defeat! Let us not let the winds of war blow ever stronger across Europe and the Mediterranean. Let us not give in to the logic of weapons and rearmament,” added the Argentine Pope, tireless defender of peace.
“War is always an absurdity and a defeat”
Citing more than a dozen countries, from the Middle East (Lebanon, Syria) to Africa (Sudan, Mozambique and Democratic Republic of Congo) including Haiti, Burma and the “dialogue” between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the sovereign pontiff reviewed numerous conflicts that are shaking the world.
At a time when a new round of negotiations for a truce between Israel and Hamas is due to begin, he renewed his call for the release of Israeli hostages and an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. The 87-year-old pope also urged "a general exchange of all prisoners between Russia and Ukraine", a phrase applauded by the 60,000 faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square.
Francis invited political leaders to “spare no effort to combat the scourge of human trafficking, working tirelessly to dismantle networks of exploitation and restore freedom to those who are its victims. »