Europe 1 with AFP // HANDOUT / VATICAN MEDIA / AFP 1:16 p.m., March 31, 2024
Pope Francis gave a broad overview of conflicts in the world this Sunday, renewing his call to “not give in to the logic of weapons” during his Easter message to the Vatican.
From Ukraine to Gaza, Pope Francis gave a vast overview of conflicts in the world on Sunday, renewing his call to "not give in to the logic of weapons" during his Easter message to the Vatican . "Let us not let the ongoing hostilities continue to seriously affect the civilian population which is now exhausted, especially the children. How much suffering we see in their eyes. Through their looks they ask us: why? Why so many deaths? Why so many destruction?”, he said during his blessing “Urbi et Orbi” (“to the city and to the world”).
“War is always an absurdity and a defeat! Let us not let the winds of war blow ever stronger on Europe and the Mediterranean. Let us not give in to the logic of weapons and rearmament,” added the Argentine Pope . 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, Jorge Bergoglio reviewed numerous conflicts that are shaking the world.
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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. Francis called on 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.” 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.