Pope Francis's Appeal: “Enough War in the Middle East. Attacks, Even Targeted, Are Never a Solution” | EUROtoday

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“Enough brothers and sisters, enough. Do not stifle the word of God, peace, but let it be the fruit of the Holy Land.”

The Pope mentioned this on the Angelus, referring specifically to the conflict within the Middle East but in addition to the “entire world”.

“Attacks, even targeted ones, and killings can never be a solution, they do not help to follow the path of justice, the path of peace. But they generate even more hatred and revenge”, added the Pope, asking for “the courage” to “resume dialogue”, stop fireplace in Gaza and free the hostages. “War is a defeat”, added Pope Francis

Francis hopes that the conflict is not going to unfold to different elements of the area: “The conflict, already terribly bloody and violent, will not spread even further. I pray for all the victims, especially the innocent children. I express my closeness to the Druze community in the Holy Land and to the populations in Palestine, Israel, Lebanon. And let us not forget Myanmar.”

On the explosion in Beirut on August 4, 2020: “Justice must be done”

The Pope additionally recalled the explosion on the port of Beirut on August 4, 2020, precisely 4 years in the past. “Even today the Lebanese people are suffering greatly. In particular, I think of the families of the victims of the explosion at the port of Beirut. I hope that justice and truth will soon be done. May the new blessed – said the Pope, referring to the Patriarch Stephen Douayhy recently beatified in Lebanon – support the faith and hope of the Church in Lebanon and intercede for this beloved country.”