On this first Sunday of Lent, Pope Francis warned that war “is always useless and inconclusive, and will only bring death” and “will never bring the solution to problems.”
After concluding the Angelus prayer in St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican, the Holy Father recalled that “ten months have already passed since the armed conflict broke out in Sudan, which caused a very serious humanitarian situation.”
On 15 April 2023, the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (RSF) took up arms in the country, giving way to a civil war that has taken its toll, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) more than 13,000 dead and more than 26,000 injured.
“I once again ask the parties in conflict to put an end to this war, which does so much damage to the people and the future of the country. Let us pray that paths of peace will soon be found to build the future of beloved Sudan,” said Pope Francis.
The Pope also recalled that “violence against defenseless populations, the destruction of infrastructure and insecurity are spreading once again in the province of Cabo Delgado, in Mozambique, where in recent days the Catholic mission of Our Lady of Africa in Mazeze.”
“Let us pray that peace returns to that tormented region,” he urged, while asking not to forget “the many other conflicts that bloodied the African continent and many parts of the world: also Europe, Palestine, Ukraine.”
“Let us not forget: war is always a defeat. Wherever there is fighting, the populations are exhausted, tired of war, which as always is useless and inconclusive, and will only bring death, only destruction, and will never bring a solution to the problems.”
“Instead, let us pray without tiring, because prayer is effective, and let us ask the Lord for the gift of minds and hearts specifically dedicated to peace,” he encouraged.