Israel Before the anniversary of the Hamas attack: Pope prays for peace

Visibly moved, Pope Francis prayed for peace one day before the anniversary of the Hamas massacre in Israel on October 7, 2023. The head of around 1.4 billion Catholics asked the Blessed Virgin Mary to silence the noise of deadly weapons, to extinguish the violence smouldering in people's hearts and to inspire the global community to act for peace.

Francis described the current world situation as a time of oppressive injustice and devastating wars. "Pray for our endangered world, that it may protect life and banish war, that it may care for the suffering, the poor, the defenceless, the sick and the oppressed, and that it may guard our common home," he said at the rosary prayer for world peace in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome in front of numerous faithful.

The Pontiff did not mention a single war in his prayer. However, at midday, after the Angelus prayer, he called for an "immediate ceasefire on all fronts, including in Lebanon" in view of the situation in the Middle East. In view of the anniversary of the Hamas terror attack this Monday, he expressed his deepest sympathy to the people of Israel. Francis has also declared this Monday a day of fasting and prayer for peace.

SDA