Pope Francis this Sunday called on politicians to “pause for a moment and try to negotiate” peace in Ukraine and between Israel and Palestine and expressed support for all those working to reduce military tensions.
“May our prayer for peace not fail, for a just and lasting peace, in particular for the martyr Ukraine, but also for Palestine and Israel,” the pontiff said from the window of the Apostolic Palace after the “Regina Coeli” prayer, which replaces the Angelus during the Easter period .
In front of hundreds of people listening from St. Peter’s Square, the Argentine pope expressed his desire for God to “enlighten and support all those who work to reduce tensions and encourage gestures that make negotiations possible.”
“May God grant the leaders the opportunity to stop for a while and try to come to an agreement,” he concluded.