Pope Francis on Wednesday expressed deep sorrow over the violence in the Holy Land and in Ukraine, which he described as “very painful”.
He acknowledged the pain caused by wars and specifically highlighted the distressing situation in the Holy Land, according to Vatican News.
“We all feel the pain of the wars… What is happening in the Holy Land is very painful. It is very painful,” the pontiff said.
In a video message, the pope urged the resolution of differences through dialogue instead of causing a devastating loss of lives.
“Since the Second World War ended until today, wars have followed in many parts of the world,” he lamented.
“When they are far away from us, we do not feel them as much. Today there are two very near that force us to react: Ukraine and the Holy Land,” he added.
Pope Francis asserted the right of both the Palestinian and Israeli people to live in peace. “These two fraternal peoples have the right to live in peace,” he said.
He then called on everyone to pray for peace in the Holy Land, urging that difficulties be resolved through dialogue and negotiation rather than resulting in a tragic loss of life on both sides.
Accompanying the video message, the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network released a press statement inviting people to join a novena titled “Peacemakers.”
This novena aims to unite Christians in praying for peace globally and specifically for the Holy Land, Palestine, and Israel. Prayers and materials can be accessed through the provided link or the “Click To Pray” app, the Pope’s official prayer app.
Earlier, during the Wednesday General Audience, Pope Francis reiterated his appeal for peace in the region.
He met separately with Israelis whose relatives are held hostage in Gaza and a delegation of Palestinians whose families are suffering in the Strip.
The Pope met first with a 12-member Israeli delegation at his residence in Casa Santa Marta and later with a Palestinian delegation composed of 10 individuals with relatives in Gaza.
Expressing deep empathy, the Pope remarked, “They suffer so much. I heard how they both suffer,” emphasizing the toll wars take on people.
He urged for prayers for both the Palestinian and Israeli people, hoping for the arrival of lasting peace.
