Pope Francis has made a heartfelt appeal against the escalation of war in Lebanon, calling the volatile situation “unacceptable” and praying for all who are suffering from war. Source: Vatican News.
“I am saddened by the news coming from Lebanon, where in recent days, intense bombings have caused many victims and destruction,” the Pope said toward the conclusion of his General Audience in St Peter’s Square.
The Pope said the escalation is “unacceptable” and urged the international community to make “every effort” to stop the decent into violence.
Israeli raids against Hezbollah have so far caused over 550 deaths, including civilians and children.
Pope Francis prayed for all suffering from war, and again turned to war-torn Ukraine.
“Let us pray,” he said, “for everyone, for all people who suffer due to war. Let us not forget martyred Ukraine, Myanmar, Palestine, Israel, Sudan, all martyred peoples. Let us pray for peace.”
He also recalled the “tragedy of war” that has been devastating Ukraine since Russia’s invasion.
“With God’s help,” he said, “support those who are suffering and in need, who often see no hope.”
On Tuesday, the Pope sent a message to faith leaders at a peace gathering in Paris, which said wars were destroying the world, and religious leaders must join together to urge their governments to “stop while there is still time”, OSV News reported.
“If others continue to make war, together we can work for peace,” the Pope said in the message to religious leaders gathered in Paris for the closing ceremony of the international “Imagining Peace” meeting organised by the Community of Sant’Egidio.
With the leaders gathered in front of Notre Dame Cathedral, the Pope noted how the church “after the tragic fire, is about to reopen its doors for prayer. How much we need to pray for peace! The risk that the many conflicts in our world, rather than ceasing, will dangerously spread, is all too real.”
FULL STORY
Pope: Situation in Lebanon ‘unacceptable,’ escalation must be avoided (By Deborah Castellano Lubov, Vatican News)
Stop wars ‘while there is still time,’ Pope says (By Cindy Wooden, OSV News)
