Pope Francis called for “an immediate ceasefire on all fronts” in the Middle East, and for the pursuit of diplomacy and dialogue in his Angelus address on Sunday, Oct. 13.
He appealed in particular for “respect” for the United Nations peacekeeping forces in Lebanon that have been hit by Israeli forces this past week, and for an end to the air strikes against the civilian population in Ukraine.
Speaking from the papal study window of the apostolic palace, Francis told the thousands of pilgrims and Romans gathered in St. Peter’s Square: “I continue to follow with concern what is happening in the Middle East, and I ask yet again for an immediate ceasefire on all the fronts. Let the paths of diplomacy and dialogue be pursued to obtain peace.”
“I am close to all the populations involved, in Palestine, Israel and Lebanon, where I ask that the United Nations peacekeeping forces be respected,” he said.
The pope’s remarks came after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres, in a message broadcast on Israeli television, “It is time for you to withdraw [the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon] from Hezbollah strongholds and from the areas of combat.” The Israeli leader accused the United Nations of “providing a human shield to Hezbollah terrorists” and added: “Mr. Secretary General, get the UNIFIL forces out of harm’s way. It should be done right now, immediately.”
The U.N. peacekeeping force in Lebanon said on Saturday its headquarters in Naqoura was hit again, with a peacekeeper struck by gunfire late Friday and in stable condition. It wasn’t clear who fired. It occurred a day after Israel’s military fired on the headquarters for a second straight day. France, Italy and Spain have issued a joint statement condemning the Israeli Defense Forces for injuring members of UNIFIL, and President Joe Biden said he has asked Israel not to target the U.N. personnel.
Pope Francis’ call for “an immediate ceasefire on all fronts” in the Middle East came as Israel promised to retaliate against Iran for its recent ballistic missile attack on Israel. Iran’s attack came after Israel assassinated a Hamas leader in Tehran and killed Hezbollah leadership in Beirut.
The total death toll in Lebanon over the past year of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah is now 2,255 killed, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. More than 1,400 people have been killed since mid-September. It is not clear how many were fighters.
Israel also continues its military operation against Hamas in Gaza, which since Oct. 7 has led to the deaths of more than 41,000 Palestinians, including thousands of women and children. Millions have been displaced in the small enclave.
In his message today, Pope Francis told the peoples of Palestine, Israel and Lebanon: “I pray for all the victims, for the displaced people, for the hostages that I hope can be released now, and I hope that this great and useless suffering, caused by hatred and vendetta, can soon end.”
He concluded his remarks on the Middle East, saying: “Brothers and sisters, war is an illusion, it is a defeat, it will never bring peace, nor will it ever bring security. It is a defeat for all, especially for the one who believes he is invincible. Stop, please!”
The Argentine pope has repeatedly warned in recent weeks against the spread of the conflict in the Middle East into a regional war with unforeseen consequences. Speaking in Brussels on Sept. 27, he warned that the world was “close to another world war.” Last weekend, he prayed the rosary with the synod participants at a peace service in the Basilica of St. Mary Major, and the pope declared last Monday a day of prayer and fasting to implore God for peace in the world.
Francis then turned to Ukraine, which Russia invaded on Feb. 24, 2022. According to reporting from the Wall Street Journal, the number of dead and wounded on both sides of the war has reached one million, and millions more have been displaced or forced to become refugees in other countries.
“I make my appeal so that the Ukrainians be not allowed to die of cold, that the air attacks on the civilian population cease,” the pope said. “Stop killing the innocent!”
Francis meets frequently with people who have been on the ground in Ukraine and has nominated Italian Cardinal Matteo Zuppi as his special envoy for the return of the children abducted by the Russians and helping to create a climate for peace negotiations. Last Friday, he met Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelinsky for the third time in the Vatican.
The pope also spoke about the dramatic situation in Haiti today, saying:
I follow the dramatic situation in Haiti, where violence continues against the population that is forced to flee from their homes in search of security elsewhere, within and outside the country. Let us not forget our Haitian brothers and sisters. I ask everyone to pray so that every form of violence stops and, with the help of the international community, that they continue to work to build peace and reconciliation in the country, by always defending the dignity and rights of everyone.
Pope Francis concluded his plea for peace by recalling that today, Oct. 13, is the anniversary of the final apparitions of Our Lady at Fatima in 1917, and he entrusted to her intercession peace for all the countries at war or suffering violence.
Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.
