Pope Francis today lamented the end of the ceasefire between Israel and the Islamist movement Hamas in the Gaza conflict and expressed hope that a new ceasefire could be reached.
“The situation in Israel and Palestine is serious. There is so much suffering in Gaza, there is a lack of basic needs,” the pope said in a message read by an aide at the end of the Angelus prayer at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta, with Francis remaining seated. .
Pope Francis, recovering from bronchitis, admitted to being “saddened that the ceasefire has been broken” and reiterated his expectation that “the parties involved can reach a new ceasefire agreement as quickly as possible.”
The head of the Catholic Church called for finding “courageous paths to peace” and recalled the Israeli hostages held by Hamas and the people of Gaza who are suffering from Israeli attacks.
“Many hostages have been released, but many are still in Gaza. Let us think of them and their families who saw a light, a hope to embrace their loved ones,” he explained, adding the hope that “other solutions regarding weapons” could be found.
Thousands of believers watched the pope’s words on television on screens installed in St. Peter’s Square, the usual location for the pope’s Angelus prayer.