Pope Francis reiterated his call for peace to end the war in Palestine and Israel, highlighting that he prays every day for that special intention.
“I follow the situation in the Middle East with concern and also with pain. “I renew the call not to give in to the logic of demands and war, but rather to prevail in the ways of dialogue and diplomacy that can do so much,” said the Holy Father after praying the Marian prayer of the Regina Caeli at the Vatican on 21 April, Sunday.
“I pray every day for peace in Palestine and Israel and I hope that these two peoples can soon stop suffering,” he added.
Pope Francis expressed his concern about the attack launched by Iran against Israel, which the latter successfully repelled; and he had already urged us to use the path of dialogue.
In his words after the Regina Caeli, Pope Francis also asked not to forget “the martyred Ukraine, the martyred Ukraine that suffers so much because of the war”, from February 2022 onwards.
Pope Francis also recalled that this April 21, Good Shepherd Sunday, “the World Day of Prayer for Vocations is celebrated, which has as its theme ‘Called to sow hope and build peace.’”
“It is a beautiful occasion to rediscover the Church as a community characterized by a polyphony of charismas and vocations at the service of the Gospel,” highlighted the Holy Father.
In this context, “I address my heartfelt greeting to the new priests of the diocese of Rome, who were ordained yesterday afternoon in St. Peter’s Basilica. We pray for them!”