After concluding his Sunday Angelus prayer at noon, the Supreme Pontiff told the faithful and pilgrims present in St. Peter’s Square from the window of his study in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, “I continue to think about the serious situation in Palestine and Israel, where so many people have lost their lives.”

“Please stop, in God’s name: ceasefire! I hope that all paths will be followed to completely prevent an escalation of the conflict, that the injured can be helped, and that aid will reach the people of Gaza, where the humanitarian situation is very serious,” the Pope said, according to a press release from the Holy See.

The communiqué, published on its official site by the Vatican press office, noted that Francis referred to the children victims’ suffering from the clashes in other regions worldwide, underscoring that “this is how their future is being killed,” so he asked believers to pray to say Enough!

In the final part of his speech on Sunday, the Pontiff pledged, “I am close to the people of Nepal who suffered from an earthquake, as well as to the Afghan refugees who have found shelter in Pakistan, but who now no longer know where to go. And, I pray for the victims of storms and floods in Italy and other countries.”

Concerning the serious situation in the Middle East, with the upturn of Israel’s bombings on the Palestinian population in the Gaza Strip, Pope Francis warned on Wednesday about a possible escalation, while expressing his confidence in human wisdom to prevent it from happening.

jg/omr/oda/ort