Pope Francis, during his Sunday Angelus address, emphasized that peace is not only desirable but achievable with goodwill.
“Peace is possible. It takes goodwill,” he said, urging people of goodwill never to resign themselves to the scourge of war.
The pontiff strongly reiterated his belief in the possibility of peace, declaring, “War always, always, always is a defeat.”
He said that the only beneficiaries of conflict are those who manufacture weapons. “Only the weapons manufacturers gain,” he lamented.
Pope Francis’ urgent call for peace was delivered to the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square after the recitation of the Angelus Prayer.
Shifting his focus to the ongoing crisis in Myanmar, where tensions between the military junta and the Arakan Army have escalated, Pope Francis expressed solidarity with the suffering people of Myanmar.
“I renew my closeness to the dear people of Myanmar who unfortunately continue to suffer from violence and suppression,” he said, offering prayers for their endurance and trust in the Lord’s help.
The Pope also extended his prayers to other conflict zones, including Ukraine and the ongoing hostilities between Palestine and Israel.
“Let us continue to pray for the tormented Ukraine and for the people of Palestine and Israel,” he said, acknowledging the pain and struggles faced by those caught in the midst of these conflicts.
Pope Francis called for a united front in prayer for peace, emphasizing the role of goodwill and collective efforts in building a world free from the ravages of war.
