Pope Francis, the leader of the Vatican, renewed his call for peace through negotiation on Wednesday, expressing sorrow over the bloody conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza. He once again curtailed his public speeches during his weekly sermon in St. Peter’s Square due to ongoing health issues.
In his brief remarks at the end of the sermon, the Pope said, “We must never forget that war is always a defeat, and we cannot continue in war. Every effort must be made to mediate and negotiate to end the war… Let us pray for that,” referring to the war in Ukraine and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Pope Francis, aged 87, did not read most of his prepared speech again. He has been suffering from mobility issues and recently experienced colds and bronchitis flare-ups.
He delegated the task to one of his aides and told his audience that he still needed to reduce his public speeches.
Earlier this month, Pope Francis sparked controversy when he suggested in an interview with Swiss radio “RSI” that “Ukraine should have the courage to wave the white flag and start talks with Russia.”
However, his deputy, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, later clarified that Russia must first cease its aggression.
The Gaza Strip has been a focal point of conflict between Israel and Palestinian groups for many decades. Since Israel’s establishment in 1948, there have been numerous conflicts, with Gaza often at the center of hostilities. The region came under Egyptian control following the 1948 Arab-Israeli War but was later seized by Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War. The 1993 Oslo Accords led to Israel’s withdrawal in 2005, yet the area has remained a hotbed of tension, especially after Hamas gained control in 2007. This has resulted in several military operations and wars, the most recent beginning in October 2023 when Hamas attacked Israel, leading to a devastating Israeli counter-assault .
In Ukraine, the ongoing conflict began in 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea, leading to fighting in eastern Ukraine between Ukrainian forces and separatist groups backed by Russia. The situation escalated significantly in February 2022 when Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, leading to widespread international condemnation and a humanitarian crisis. The war has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and the displacement of millions of Ukrainians.
