Pope Francis has reappeared at the window of the Apostolic Palace for the Sunday Angelus after yesterday's discomfort due to a flu-like condition that has been dragging on for a few days. News that had also created apprehension because it is the sixth time in eight months that a flu-like condition has blocked the activities of the eighty-seven-year-old pontiff. To the faithful, Bergoglio has asked to exercise mercy and always put the light of Christ at the center of life. His voice at the microphone seemed good even though he looked a bit pale. There were thousands of people in the square and many rainbow flags, symbol of the pacifists and several signs with peace written on them. However, there were no Ukrainian, Russian, Palestinian, Israeli flags evidently banned.
"Yesterday, February 24, we remembered with pain the second anniversary of the beginning of the large-scale war in Ukraine," the Pope recalled, highlighting the pain it has sown in the "martyred Ukrainian people". His hope is to find a "bit of humanity" to create the conditions for a diplomatic solution that can lead to a just and lasting war. As always, the Pope avoided mentioning that this devastating war began two years ago with Moscow's aggression.
"A period that is becoming long and the end is not in sight. It is a war that is not only devastating that region of Europe but is unleashing a global wave of fear and hatred". He immediately asked to pray for Palestine and Israel and all the peoples affected by war. "Think of the wounded and innocent children". Francis then listed the Congo, where continuous clashes are taking place, Nigeria where kidnappings are the order of the day. Finally in this list he included Mongolia on its knees not for war but for extreme weather events. An intense cold that has humanitarian consequences. "The climate crisis is a global and social problem".
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