WelCom April 2024
Pope Francis has called for Israel and Hamas to reach an agreement for ‘an immediate ceasefire in Gaza’, repeating ‘Enough!’ and ‘Stop!’ from the window of the apostolic palace.
Delivering his Angelus address in St Peter’s Square, 3 March 2024, the Pope made an emotional plea for a deal that would both free the Israeli hostages immediately and grant humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza.
‘I carry daily in my heart, with sorrow, the suffering of the peoples in Palestine and Israel due to the ongoing hostilities,’ Pope Francis said.
‘The thousands of dead, the wounded, the displaced, the immense destruction, causes pain, and this with tremendous consequences on the little ones and the defenceless who see their future compromised.
‘I wonder: do you really think you are going to build a better world this way? Do you really think you are going to achieve peace? Enough, please! Let us all say: Stop! Please stop!’
The Pope made his appeal as negotiations continue for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
Pope Francis said: ‘I encourage the continuation of negotiations for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and throughout the region, so that hostages can be freed immediately and return to their anxiously awaiting loved ones, and the civilian population can have safe access to due and urgent humanitarian aid.’
Source: The Tablet