Pope Francis offered prayers for the victims of a recent terror attack in Iran, which claimed the lives of nearly 90 people, during the Angelus prayer on the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord.
The Pope also directed his thoughts towards the ongoing conflicts around the world, urging the faithful to pray for peace.
The pontiff conveyed his condolences to the families of the victims and those affected by the terrorist attack in Kerman, according to Vatican News.
The incident occurred on January 3, 2024, during a commemorative ceremony marking the assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, who was killed on the same day in 2020.
Two bombs were detonated within a 15-minute interval, resulting in the death of 84 people and injuring over 250 others.
The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement posted on Telegram one day after the incident.
Pope Francis also reflected on a significant historical event that took place sixty years ago in Jerusalem.
He recalled the meeting between Pope St Paul VI and Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras, an encounter that symbolized the breaking of barriers between Catholics and Orthodox Christians that had lasted for centuries.
“Let us learn from the embrace of those two Greats of the Church on the road to Christian unity, praying together, walking together, working together,” urged the Pope, emphasizing the significance of this historic gesture of fraternity.
Pope Francis then extended his call for prayers to foster peace not only in the Middle East but also in Palestine, Israel, Ukraine, and the entire world.
He lamented the countless victims of wars, the high death toll, and the extensive destruction caused by conflicts worldwide.
Reiterating his plea for peace, the Pope emphasized the urgency of collective prayer to address the challenges faced by humanity.
