In his speech, pronounced from the window of his study in the Vatican Apostolic Palace at noon on Sunday, after the usual Angelus prayer, the Supreme Pontiff told the faithful and pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square that he follows “with apprehension and pain what is happening.”

The Pope stated that between Israel and Palestine, “violence has erupted even more ferociously, causing hundreds of deaths and injuries. I express my closeness to the victims’ families, I pray for them and for all those who are living hours of terror and anguish.”

“Please stop the attacks and the weapons, and understand that terrorism and war do not lead to any solution, but only to the death and suffering of many innocent people,” Francis concluded.

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