Pope Francis Prays for Victims of the Moscow Terror Attack and Calls for Peace Amid Global Conflicts

“I assure my prayer for the victims of the vile terrorist attack carried out in Moscow, may the Lord welcome them in peace and comfort their families and convert the hearts of those who protect and organize these actions that offend God who commanded not to kill.” Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square concluded the Palm Sunday celebration with these words. Earlier, during the mass, the faithful had prayed for the rulers “called to cultivate peace and the good of the peoples so that they can overcome every conflict with dialogue and mutual respect.” Pope Francis tired The sky was full of clouds all morning, continuously moved by the wind, although from time to time they widened, letting the blue filter through. The square of the basilica was a riot of flowers, with piles of olive branches arrived from Sanremo ready to be distributed to the people, however, this year's celebration is weighed down by terrible events and news. Ukraine exhausted by two years of Russian aggression, the Middle East in pieces with the war in Gaza, Israel under the rockets of Hamas, Hezbollah, not to mention the bombings in Syria, in Yemen, the clashes in Sudan and lastly, in chronological order, the ISIS attack in Moscow, a sign that the most ferocious Islamic extremism continues to gather followers against Christians and the West. Pope Francis, sitting on his throne, a bit tired, decided not to read the long homily he had prepared, nor to entrust it to a Vatican priest as he lately does because of the cough that torments him. However, at the end, he read some sheets of the Angelus, emphasizing that only Jesus “can free us from hatred, from violence because he is mercy and the forgiveness of sins.” He then remembered those who suffer because of wars, starting from the “tormented Ukraine where so many people find themselves without electricity due to intense attacks on structures. Attacks that in addition to suffering pose the risk of a humanitarian catastrophe with even worse consequences.” Finally, his thoughts flew to Gaza “which suffers so much and to other places of conflict.” The text of the homily that he had prepared and that he did not read during the mass spoke of “the short circuits of hate that make humanity regress” emphasizing that the mission of believers is to always testify to the salvation of Jesus. He insisted on the need not to be numbed by indifference, not to be overwhelmed by intolerance, but to watch in the Gethsemanes of humanity, “aware that the sword solves nothing; it improves nothing and worsens everything.” The solemn rite as tradition was preceded by a procession, then the Gospel was read that tells of the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem with the start of his destiny until the crucifixion. The theme of evil in the preaching of Pope Francis is a constant. In the unread text, he exhorted not to be slothful, not to close one's eyes in the face of evil. Evil is also distance and omission. “Turning the other way, staying apart instead of rising and supporting the work of God with prayer and those who suffer with love, is a fault.” The encouragement that comes from the Pope to Christians is to never stop fighting against selfishness, the “danger of thinking only of ourselves.” The mass closed with a tour on the popemobile. The Pope was encouraged and he himself encouraged: Let's go forward, let's go forward.