Pope Francis prays for peace and health - believers united!

Pope Francis prays for peace and health - believers united!

Petersplatz, 00120 Vatikanstadt, Vatikan - On April 6, 2025, Pope Francis showed himself in public again and addressed his Angelus prayer to the believers. He prayed for the sick and health staff and asked for support and respect for doctors, nurses and all healthcare employees. At a time when the worldwide challenges for the health systems increase, he also called for investments in treatment and research to support the needy. Francis also spoke about the ongoing conflicts and asked for peace for the civilian population in Ukraine and in the Gaza Strip, where many innocent people, including children, suffer.

The Holy Year celebration of the sick

The fair was a highlight as part of the Holy Year celebration for the sick. In his sermon, which aimed at the topic of "sickness as a school of love", Archbishop Fisichella quoted the prophet Isaiah: "See, now I'm doing something new. Already it sprouts, you don't notice?" This message, which is aimed at a suffering people in exile, was linked to the experiences of sick and health personnel. It is emphasized how important it is to keep together in times of despair and not to lose sight of the opportunities for healing and hope.

encouraging words were also addressed to the health staff, which was called on to act with gratitude and humanity. Disease was described as one of the toughest exams in life in which God does not leave man in their weakness alone. The sermon addressed the challenges in healthcare on the one hand and on the other hand the need to share the dignity and suffering of the sick, as elementary aspects of human experience.

peace and violence in the world

In a larger context, the words of the Pope are related to the complexity of the relationship between faith and violence. According to the Federal Center for Political Education, religious differences are rarely the main cause of conflicts; It is often political and economic factors that lead to violence. Although the number of armed conflicts has been declining worldwide since the 1990s, the connection between religion and violence remains a controversial topic.

religious movements can cause both peaceful and violent mobilization. In order to prevent the instrumentalization of religious differences from violent elites, it is important to protect the autonomy of faith communities and to promote religious education. The Pope appeals to the faithful to seek peace through dialogue and a common understanding of what is of crucial importance in times of global conflicts.

The return of Pope Francis after 38 days inpatient treatment in the Vatican shows that the Pontifex actively participates in church life again and maintains its commitment to the weakest of society. With the opening of the jubilee year 2025, it is expected that the Pope will continue to play a central role in global dialogue about peace and humanity.