Pope Francis made his latest appeal for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip during his weekly General Audience in the Vatican.
Reflecting on the war in the Holy Land, the Pope lamented the tragic news that continues to come from the Middle East.
“I reiterate,” the Holy Father went on to appeal, “my firm request for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.”
The Holy Father expressed his “deep regret” for the staff members of the World Central Kitchen killed while engaged in the distribution of humanitarian aid in Gaza, and reassured him of his prayers for them and their families.
On Tuesday, Israeli airstrikes killed seven aid workers in Gaza, who were delivering food to besieged Palestinians with the US-based charity World Central Kitchen. Those killed included three British nationals, an Australian, a Polish national, an American-Canadian dual citizen, and a Palestinian.
Appeal for exhausted and suffering civilian population
“I renew,” he continued, “my appeal for the exhausted and suffering civilian population to be allowed access to humanitarian aid and for the hostages to be released immediately.”
The Holy Father concluded the appeal by calling on the faithful to join him in prayer for “the silencing of weapons and the return of peace.”
