Pope Francis calls for an end to heavy bombing in Gaza

The Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs in Palestine has shared the following Press Release (originally published by Vatican News)

As he prepares to return to the Vatican after his hospitalization and treatment for bilateral pneumonia, Pope Francis renews his call for peace, urging an end to violence in Gaza and other conflict zones and expresses his gratitude for global efforts towards dialogue, especially in the South Caucasus.

Pope Francis appeared at the window of Rome’s Gemelli hospital on Sunday, his first public appearance after five weeks of hospitalisation. He greeted and blessed the over 3000 well-wishers present in the hospital courtyard, many of them carrying bright flowers and “welcome home” posters, while his Sunday reflection was read by tv/radio commentators and distributed to journalists. In it, he appeals for the silencing of weapons.

Call for peace

In his prepared greeting,  the Pope reflected on the day’s Gospel and used it to highlight the immense suffering of the people in Gaza, as well as all those who, across the world, suffer the consequences of war.

Throughout his hospitalization, the Pope has never tired of making his voice for peace heard in prepared texts published prior to the Angelus prayer in St Peter’s Square.

Appeal for Gaza

This Sunday, just before his programmed return to Casa Santa Marta to begin two months of convalescence, Pope Francis prayed for the people of Palestine, writing, “I am saddened by the resumption of heavy Israeli bombing on the Gaza Strip, causing many deaths and injuries. I call for an immediate halt to the weapons; and for the courage to resume dialogue, so that all hostages may be released and a final ceasefire reached”.

“I call for an immediate halt to the weapons; and for the courage to resume dialogue, so that all hostages may be released and a final ceasefire reached”

He continued by highlighting the “very serious” humanitarian situation in the Strip, warning that urgent commitment is required from the conflicting parties and the international community.

Gospel of patience

The Gospel of the day points to the image of the barren fig tree, spared from being cut down in the hope that it may still bear fruit. This, the Pope said, is how God looks upon humanity: with mercy, with perseverance, and with a love that never tires. In light of all the suffering, but of all the hope, “It is the same patience we are called to cultivate in our daily lives, especially in times of hardship and uncertainty”, said the Pope.

Before concluding, the Holy Father once again placed his trust in the intercession of the Virgin Mary, asking her to accompany the Church and the world on the path of peace. He invited the faithful to join him in praying for peace, “especially in tormented Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Myanmar, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”

“Pray for peace in tormented Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Myanmar, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo”

ENDS

Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin

Cardinal Parolin: ‘There is no longer any respect for humanitarian law'

The Holy See Secretary of State expresses concern about the “systematic violation of international law”, especially the bombing of civilians and the killing of aid workers. [...]

“We are very concerned about the systematic violation of international law”.

Those were the words of Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, expressing the Holy See’s apprehension about the resumption of various conflicts around the world – particularly the recent violence in the Gaza Strip, which Pope Francis condemned yesterday in his Angelus message.

[Cardinal Parolin] told journalists that the Pope's appeal “is a call to stop, to find ways of dialogue and peace”.

“Recently,” the Cardinal Secretary of State said, “we spoke with the Red Cross and they too are very, very much in difficulty. The bombing of civilians, the killing of humanitarian workers – these are all actions that go precisely against humanitarian law, and today there is no respect for humanitarian law. This is one of the great limitations of this period: there is no respect for humanitarian law anymore.”

(Full Article published by Vatican News)