Francis has backed ceasefire proposals and demanded that humanitarian aid “reach those who need it.”
“I encourage the international community to act urgently, with all means, to respond to help from the population of Gazaexhausted by the war,” said the Pope Francisco during his Sunday noon blessing. “Humanitarian aid must be allowed to reach those who need it, and no one can stop it.”
To his request that humanitarian aid reach the Palestinians of Gaza urgently, he added that Israel and Hamas immediately accept the ceasefire proposals and release of hostages.
Francis also thanked Jordan, which this week will host a international humanitarian aid conference for the Palestinians.
He recalled that Saturday marked 10 years since the prayer for peace he organized in the Vatican gardens, which was attended by the then Israeli president, Shimon Peres, and the Palestinian leader, Mahmoud Abbas. “This meeting showed that it is possible to shake hands and? to make peace it takes couragemuch more courage than to wage war,” he said.
Francis threw his support behind the ceasefire proposals and said he hoped the terms would be quickly accepted by both sides, although he acknowledged that negotiations “are not easy”.
“I hope that the proposals for peace on all fronts that have been presented and for the release of the hostages will be accepted immediately for the good of Palestinians and Israelis,” he said.
Furthermore, the Pope made a call for peace in Ukraine and in Myanmar.
