“We do not realize, or we pretend not to see it, that we are on the brink of the abyss”, said Pope Francis in statements published today by the newspaper La Stampa.
In an interview with the newspaper, the Pope said that “I will never tire of reiterating my appeal, addressed in particular to those who have political responsibilities.”
Stop immediately the bombs and missiles, put an end to hostile attitudes. Francis reaffirmed that ‘war is always and only a defeat, for everyone.
The only ones who benefit are the manufacturers and traffickers of arms.
He made reference to the war conflicts that are currently taking place in the world, in particular the one in Ukraine, between that country and Russia, as well as the war in the Middle East between Israel and Palestine, both with serious consequences.
In relation to the latter, he pointed out that he fears a military escalation, since it is now “expanding dramatically’ and considered that ‘it can further worsen the tensions and violence that already mark the planet.”
He expressed that, “at the same time at this moment I am cultivating a little bit of hope, because confidential meetings are being held to try to reach an agreement’, and he valued that “ a truce would already be a good result.”
However, if the Oslo agreement with the two-state solution is not implemented, ‘real peace will remain distant,’ he said.
On the role being played by the Catholic Church in trying to stop this war in which, as a result of Israel’s bombardment of the Gaza Strip, about 26,000 Palestinians have already died, he indicated that ‘a crucial figure is Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Patriarch of Jerusalem’, who ‘is resolutely trying to mediate’.
Regarding the Vatican’s efforts on the conflict in Ukraine, he recalled that “I have entrusted the task of this complicated and delicate mission to Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, president of the Italian Episcopal Conference” who, he said ‘is good and expert’ and carries out diplomatic work to “build a climate of reconciliation.”
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