2024-03-31 11:35:08
Updated Sunday, March 31, 2024 – 1:35 p.m.
He Papa He regretted that the winds of war “are blowing ever stronger over Europe and the Mediterranean” and called for “not to give in to the logic of weapons and rearmament.” “Peace is never built with weapons, but by reaching out and opening the heart,” said Francisco, looking out from the balcony of the central loggia of the St. Peter’s Basilica before some 100,000 faithful for the bendicin del Urbi et Orbi.
Likewise, he has claimed “a prisoner exchange” between Russia and Ukraine at Easter while requesting that the “possibility of access for humanitarian aid to Gaza“and has urged “the rapid release of the Israeli hostages” kidnapped on October 7 by Hamas.
“May the risen Christ open a path of peace for the martyred populations of those regions. While I invite respect for the principles of international law, I hope for a general exchange of all prisoners between Russia and Ukraine: all for all! “, declared the Pontiff.
The Pontiff has thus referred to the “heavy rocks” that today “close the hopes of humanity”, as “the rock of war, that of humanitarian crises, that of violations of human rights or that of drug trafficking.” people”.
For this reason, he has asked God to open “the path of life in the midst of death”, “that of peace in the midst of war”, “that of reconciliation in the midst of hatred” through the “empty tomb”. ” and “that of brotherhood in the midst of enmity.”
“Without the forgiveness of sins it is not possible to escape from closed-mindedness, prejudices, mutual suspicions or presumptions that always absolve oneself and accuse others,” the Pope said.
The Pope has taken advantage – as usual – of the apostolic blessing to list the open conflicts in the world beginning “with those of Israel and Palestine”, and “Ukraine”. “Let us not allow the ongoing hostilities to continue seriously affecting the already exhausted civilian population, and especially the children,” he added. Francis has thus reiterated that war is always “an absurdity and a defeat.”
Other conflicts
On the other hand, he has urged not to forget Syria“which has been suffering for 14 years the consequences of a long and devastating war” and has referred to the Lebanon“affected for some time by an institutional blockade and by a deep economic and social crisis, now aggravated by hostilities on the border with Israel“.
The Pope has also referred to the Western Balkan Regionwhere “significant steps towards integration into the European project” are being taken and has asked that “ethnic, cultural and confessional differences not be a cause of division, but a source of wealth for all of Europe and the entire world.”
Likewise, it has encouraged “conversations between Armenia y to Azerbaijan so that, with the support of the international community, they can continue the dialogue, help displaced people, respect the places of worship of the various religious denominations and reach a definitive peace agreement as soon as possible.”
The Pontiff has also referred to sharp “so that the violence that lacerates and bloodies the country ceases as soon as possible, and that progress can be made on the path of democracy and fraternity.”
He has also asked that comfort be given to the Rohiny, “afflicted by a serious humanitarian crisis” and that the path of “reconciliation in Myanmar“, a country that has been hit for years by internal conflicts, so that all logic of violence is definitively abandoned.”
The Pontiff has also called for “ways of peace to be opened on the African continent, especially for the exhausted populations in Sud and throughout the region of Sahelin the Horn of Africa, in the region of Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo and in the province of Cabo Delgado in Mozambiqueand put an end to the prolonged drought situation that affects large areas and causes shortages and hunger.
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