In its April edition of its Justice & Peace Alerts, the Conference of Major Superiors of Men — of which the Viatorians are members — reported on an address made by Pope Francis, during his general audience April 17 in St. Peter’s Square. In it, he focused his remarks on the violence in Gaza.
Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square on April 17. (Photo taken by Br. Rob Robertson, CSV)
“Pope Francis condemned the recent killing of humanitarian workers in Gaza and called for an immediate ceasefire in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. He emphasized the importance of justice as a foundational virtue for a well-ordered society and linked the lack of justice to the perpetuation of conflicts and the oppression of the weak.
“In an emotional moment, he also reflected on the tragic death of a young Ukrainian soldier, urging for reflection on the devastation caused by war. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu described a tragic incident in Gaza where IDF actions unintentionally harmed civilians. Pope Francis reiterated the urgent need for a ceasefire to allow humanitarian aid access to the suffering civilians in Gaza, highlighting the escalating civilian casualties.”
Read the entire address here.