Pope Francis demands peace: Appeal for Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan

Pope Francis demands peace: Appeal for Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan

In a moving Christmas address, Pope Francis called for the world to silence weapons and to create peace in crisis areas. The 88-year-old Pontifex commented on Wednesday in the Vatican during his traditional "Urbi et orbi" message on Wednesday and addressed his appeal to humanity, especially with regard to the devastating humanitarian situation in the Gaza strip.

"The situation in Gaza is extremely serious," said the Pope and demanded the release of hostages and an immediate ceasefire. "May there are a ceasefire, the hostages may be released and humanitarian aid is provided for the hungry people," he added. The numbers are shocking: since October 7, 2023, the day on which Hamas started an offensive against Israel, at least 45,361 Palestinians were killed and 107,803 injured.

A call to hope

In the case of urgent words, the Pope turned to the Christians in Israel and Palestine, especially in Gaza. "I think of the Christian communities in this region that suffer from the war," he said. The conflict not only challenged countless human lives, but also sold the entire population of Gaza and put the region in rubble.

But not only Gaza was the focus of his speech. The situation in Ukraine and Sudan was also discussed. "May the sound of weapons in the war -plagued Ukraine are silent," he called to the thousands of believers who had gathered on St. Peter's Square. The Pope called for “gestures of dialogue and the encounter” to achieve a fair and permanent peace.

the world in chaos

The international community faces enormous challenges. A brutal civil war has been raging in Sudan for 20 months that drives millions into hunger. "May the son of the highest support the efforts of the international community to provide humanitarian aid to the civilian population and to initiate new negotiations for an armistice," said Franziskus.

The conflicts in the world are numerous: from Lebanon to Mali to Nicaragua. The Pope appealed to all people to become "pilgrims of hope" and to overcome the divisions. "Let us silence the noises of the weapons," he said.

The Pope's words are an urgent call to humanity at a time when the world is shaken by conflicts and crises. In the midst of suffering and destruction, he calls for solidarity and peace - an appeal that is more urgent than ever in these difficult times.