During the general audience, the Pope asked for prayers for the innocent victims of conflicts in Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, Myanmar, and other parts of the world. He expressed sorrow for the children who “have lost their smiles,” like those he met a few days ago. The Pontiff also recalled the figure of Blessed Giuseppe Rossi in Novara and reflected on the tragedy that shook Papua New Guinea, where 2,000 people died in a landslide.
By: Francesca Sabatinelli – Vatican News
Published on:
The children who no longer smile, the children who suffer, the children in wars: Pope Francis’ thoughts remain with the cruelty of conflicts, the impact on the innocent, and again, in his greetings after the general audience, he directs his thoughts to the young victims of violence in Ukraine and other parts of the world.
“My thoughts go to the tormented Ukraine; the other day I met children who suffered burns, lost their legs in the war. War is always cruelty,” says the Pope.
These children have to start walking, moving with artificial arms. They have lost their smiles, it’s very ugly, very sad when a child loses their smile.
Children suffer.
On Saturday, May 24, Pope Francis received a group of young Ukrainians and Palestinians in the Vatican, who came to Rome for World Children’s Day.
Small victims of violence, mutilated children, who greeted the Pontiff joyfully despite everything.
And at the audience, Francis looks upon all the children of the world.
Let us pray for the Ukrainian children. Let us not forget Palestine, Israel, which suffer so much. May the war end!
And let us not forget Myanmar, which is at war, and many other countries at war. Children suffer, children in war suffer, let us pray to the Lord to be close to everyone and grant us the grace of peace.
Responding to the poverty of our time
Regarding Ukraine, Pope Francis had already mentioned in his greetings to Polish pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square, urging them to look to Blessed Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński to “respond to the poverty of our time,” including those caused by war in many countries, especially in Ukraine.
Remembering Blessed Giuseppe Rossi
The Pope then mentioned a martyred priest of the war, who was killed “out of hatred for the faith” – Blessed Giuseppe Rossi, beatified on Sunday, May 26 in Novara.
Francesco describes him as a “zealous pastor of charity” who did not abandon the flock during the tragic period of World War II but defended them to the point of shedding blood.
His heroic testimony helps us face the trials of life, says Pope Francis, asking for applause for the new Blessed.
Support for the victims of the landslide in Papua New Guinea
The Pontiff then asked the audience to pray for the victims and their families of the landslide that devastated Papua New Guinea, a country he will visit in September, where about 2,000 people have lost their lives.
A natural disaster, the landslide on May 24, would have impacted over six villages in a mountainous area in the central part of the country.
May the Lord comfort the families, those who have lost their homes, and the people of Papua New Guinea whom I will meet in September by God’s grace.
