Pope Francis held a telephone conversation this Sunday with the President of the United States, Joe Biden, about conflicts in the world and “the need to find ways to peace”, the Holy See announced.
The conversation between the two leaders took place in the afternoon and lasted about 20 minutes, according to a Vatican statement.
The Holy See did not specify the conflicts the Pope raised with Biden, the second Catholic president in the history of the United States, who was in the Vatican two years ago and who visited Israel last week, already in the middle of a conflict in the Central East, caused by an attack by the Islamist movement Hamas and immediate Israeli retaliation against the Gaza Strip.
The Pope regularly expresses his deep concern about two current conflicts: the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip between Hamas and Israel.
“Once again my thoughts are on what is happening in Israel and Palestine. I am very concerned and hurt, my prayer and my closeness are for all those who suffer: hostages, victims, wounded and their families,” declared today from the window of the Apostolic Palace, in the Vatican.
After praying Sunday’s Angelus, Francis lamented the “grave humanitarian situation” in Gaza and denounced the bombing of the Al Ahli Anglican hospital and an Orthodox church.
“I renew my call to open spaces, to continue providing humanitarian aid and for the hostages [em posse do Hamas] be liberated,” he urged as hundreds of people listened to him in Vatican Square.
And he added: “War, all wars in the world, I think also of the tortured Ukraine, is always a defeat, a destruction of human brotherhood. Brothers, stop!”
Francis has called for a day of “fasting, prayer and penance” for Friday, calling for peace in the world, and will himself preside over a ceremony in St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican.
Likewise, the Pope ordered a mission to seek mediation in Ukraine from Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, who traveled to Ukraine, Moscow, Beijing and Washington to try to reach positions that would end the war. Steps have been taken and concrete achievements have been made.
Source: DN
