The Supreme Pontiff, at noon this Sunday, after the usual Angelus prayer, and from the window of his study in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, expressed before the pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square that he follows with “great pain what is happening in Israel and Palestine.” “I think of many, in particular the little ones and the elderly. I renew the appeal for the release of the hostages and I firmly ask that children, the sick, the elderly, women and all civilians must not become victims of the conflict,” the Bishop of Rome added.

“Humanitarian law must be respected, especially in Gaza,” the Pope emphasized, so that “no more innocent blood is shed” because “many have already died”.

In this sense, he pointed out that “it is urgent and necessary to guarantee humanitarian corridors and help the entire population”.

Last Sunday, a day after the clashes began, the Pontiff called on both sides to stop the attacks and “understand that terrorism and war do not lead to any solution, but only to the death and suffering of many innocent people”, and asserted that “war is a defeat: all war is a defeat!”.

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