By Charles Igwe
During his Wednesday General Audience in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis made an impassioned plea for peace and solidarity with those enduring the ravages of war, particularly in Ukraine and the Holy Land.
His appeal coincided with the announcement of a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, which took effect early Wednesday.
“Let us not forget the martyred Ukrainian people, who suffer so much,” the Pope said, urging prayers for peace in Palestine and Israel, where countless lives are also marked by pain and loss.
Addressing Polish pilgrims, the Holy Father encouraged everyone to act as “charitable and peacemakers” by extending support to those affected by the war in Ukraine. Millions of Ukrainians face yet another harsh winter, grappling with freezing temperatures and disrupted heating systems due to repeated strikes on the country’s energy infrastructure.
The Pope also directed a special message to Italian children attending the audience, asking them to remember their peers in Ukraine. “Think of the Ukrainian children and young people who suffer at this time without heating in a very harsh winter,” he said.
