After the catechesis of the general audience, Francis renewed his exhortation to pray for those suffering from the various conflicts, remembering in particular the martyrs in Ukraine and between Israelis and Palestinians. Faced with the pain suffered by children, the elderly, the sick and the young, he made a new appeal: “War is always a defeat: let us not forget.”
Antonella Palermo News from the Vatican
At the general audience on Wednesday (August 11th), Pope Francis once again called for prayers for the people suffering from the war.
Let us not forget the martyr of Ukraine and remember the Palestinian and Israeli people. May the Lord lead us to a just peace. There is a lot of suffering.
War is always a defeat
In his greeting to the Italianspeaking pilgrims present at the general audience in St. Peter’s Square, the Pope made an urgent call for peace:
Children suffer, the sick suffer, the elderly suffer and many young people die. Let us not forget that war is always a defeat.
With regard to the conflict in the Middle East, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that around 15,000 people fled Gaza City last Tuesday (July 11), compared to 5,000 last Monday and 2,000 on Sunday. A number that is considered a “sharp increase”. Meanwhile, the Israeli army killed Mohsen Abu Zina, Hamas’ head of weapons production and a specialist in the development of strategic weapons and missiles, in a targeted airstrike overnight. On the war front in Ukraine, G7 foreign ministers said they were “united” in their determination to continue to provide “strong support” to the country attacked by Russia.
Rid the earth of evil
In his blessing to the Arabicspeaking faithful, the Pope also called for protection “from all evil” and in particular asked the Lord Jesus for a gift:
The courage to work with all who work on Earth to free it from evil and restore it to its original goodness.
Secularization, not complaining, but bearing witness fraternally
After the catechesis dedicated to the figure of Madeleine Delbrêl, Francis welcomed other groups of pilgrims, including Frenchspeaking pilgrims, especially members of the National Union of Catholic Family Associations. Then he made an invitation:
Given our secularized world, we should not complain, but see it as a call to demonstrate our faith and an invitation to share the joy of the Gospel with all who thirst for God. Let us ask the Lord for the grace to witness daily to our faith through brotherhood and friendship with every person.
Inviting the faithful to become “living stones in the service of the Lord,” the Pope recalled the celebration of the liturgical feast of the inauguration of the Basilica of Lateran on Thursday, November 9: an anniversary, according to the Bishop of Rome, that should create this enthusiasm.
Poland, Independence Anniversary: Thank God
Finally, in his greeting to the Polish pilgrims, the Successor of Peter mentioned the upcoming anniversary of the reconquest of Poland’s independence, which will be celebrated on November 11th. “This anniversary encourages you to be grateful to God,” the pope said, urging: “Pass on your story to new generations.”