Pope Francis Denounces the Absurdity of War and Calls for Peace in Ukraine and Gaza

Holding in his hands a small book and a rosary that belonged to a 23-year-old Ukrainian soldier, Oleksandr, who fell on the front fighting the Russians. Pope Francis once again cries out against the absurdity of war - 'it's madness' - in Ukraine, as in Gaza where he calls for a ceasefire and laments 'with regret' the death of six aid workers mistakenly killed by the Israeli army while they were distributing aid to the Gazans. 'I hope that it will be allowed for that exhausted population to have aid and, at the same time, that the Israeli hostages, who have been in the hands of Hamas since October 7th, are immediately released.' There are 130 people, including some children and 19 women unfortunately also subjected to sexual violence by their jailers, according to the report compiled by the UN. Francesco hopes 'that every responsible attempt will be made not to widen the conflict in the region, and to avoid this and other wars that bring suffering and death. Let the weapons fall silent and let us not forget about tormented Ukraine,' he repeated to the crowd in St. Peter's Square. Pope Francis seems to have fully recovered from the concerning malaise that had struck him during Easter. This morning he arrived in the open jeep in St. Peter's Square for the audience and settled himself without the help of attendants, using only a cane and leaning on an armrest. A sign that he has regained all his energy. The theme he chose for the catechesis referred to the concept of justice. 'A just man watches over his behavior, so that it does not harm others: if he errs, he apologizes. In some situations, he comes to sacrifice a personal good to make it available to the community. He desires an orderly society, where it is the people who give prestige to offices, and not the other way around. He abhors recommendations and does not trade favors. He loves responsibility and is exemplary in living and promoting legality.' 'A man who does not recognize fair wages to workers is unjust,' Bergoglio emphasized. 'We all understand how justice is fundamental to peaceful coexistence in society: a world without laws that respect rights would be a world where it is impossible to live, it would resemble a jungle. Without justice, there is no peace. Indeed, if justice is not respected, conflicts are generated. Without justice, the law of the strong prevailing over the weak is sanctioned. This is not right.'