Pope Francis yesterday called for Israel and Hamas to reach an agreement for “an immediate ceasefire in Gaza”, repeating “Enough!” and “Stop!” from the window of the apostolic palace. Source: The Tablet.
Delivering his Angelus address to crowds in St Peter’s Square, the Pope made an emotional plea for a deal that would both free the Israeli hostages immediately and grant humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza.
“I carry daily in my heart, with sorrow, the suffering of the peoples in Palestine and Israel due to the ongoing hostilities,” Francis said.
“The thousands of dead, the wounded, the displaced, the immense destruction, causes pain, and this with tremendous consequences on the little ones and the defenceless who see their future compromised.
“I wonder: do you really think you are going to build a better world this way? Do you really think you are going to achieve peace? Enough, please! Let us all say: Stop! Please stop!”
The Pope made his appeal as negotiations continued for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. US President Joe Biden said last week that he believed that a ceasefire could go into effect as early as today.
Reports said that Israel had essentially agreed to a six-week ceasefire framework that would include Hamas releasing some of the most vulnerable of the roughly 130 hostages still held in Gaza.
Pope Francis said: “I encourage the continuation of negotiations for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and throughout the region, so that hostages can be freed immediately and return to their anxiously awaiting loved ones, and the civilian population can have safe access to due and urgent humanitarian aid.”
The Pope also remembered “battered Ukraine where so many people are dying every day”.
Pope Francis also made an appeal for disarmament, calling it “a moral duty” for the international community.
FULL STORY
‘Enough!’ says Pope in plea for Gaza ceasefire (By Courtney Mares, CNA via The Tablet)
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