Pope Francis on Sunday called for the establishment of humanitarian corridors to aid those trapped in the conflict-ridden Gaza. He emphasized the importance of safeguarding the rights of vulnerable groups, including children, the sick, the elderly, and women, to prevent them from becoming victims of the ongoing strife.
Expressing deep concern over the loss of innocent lives in both Gaza and other conflict zones such as Ukraine, the Pope fervently appealed for an end to the violence, stating, “Wars are always a defeat, always.” His call to action included urging believers worldwide to join Catholics in the Holy Land for a day of fasting and prayer for peace on Tuesday.
With the Vatican offering to mediate in the crisis, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State, condemned Hamas’s attack on Israeli citizens as “inhuman” and stressed the principle of proportionality in the defense against aggression. As tensions escalated and Israel prepared for a possible ground assault, Pope Francis’s message resonated with a plea for an immediate halt to the bloodshed and a collective effort to counter the destructive forces of hate, terrorism, and war.
