* Says it’s not war but ‘great cruelty’
Pope Francis Sunday described the ongoing Israeli war on Gaza as “great cruelty,” expressing deep sorrow for the suffering in the region and calling for a cease-fire during the Christmas season.
Broadcasting from the chapel of the Casa Santa Marta due to a cold, the Pope delivered his traditional prayer, typically given from the window overlooking St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City.
The 88-year-old pontiff highlighted the plight of both Gaza and Ukraine, urging for an end to violence worldwide.
“I think of Gaza with great sorrow; so much cruelty, children hit by machine guns, schools and hospitals bombed… What great cruelty,” he said.
The pontiff also addressed the ongoing war in Ukraine since February 2022, which continues to endure assaults on cities, sometimes damaging schools, hospitals, and churches.
“Let weapons fall silent, and let Christmas carols resound,” he said, emphasizing the need for peace during the holiday season.
He urged for a cease-fire “in Ukraine, across the entire Middle East, and on all battlefronts around the world this Christmas.”
The Pope added that he is closely monitoring developments in Mozambique with concern.
The East African country “caught between poverty and violence,” noting his “attention and concern,” and praying that “dialogue and the quest for the common good, supported by faith and good will, may prevail over mistrust and discord.”
On Saturday, he similarly denounced Israel’s recent airstrikes in Gaza, where children were among the victims. He referred to the bombings as acts of “cruelty.”
Israel launched a genocidal war on Gaza that has killed more than 45,200 people, mostly women and children, since Oct. 7, 2023.
The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants last month for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on Gaza.
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