Pope makes heartfelt plea against escalation of war in Lebanon

Lebanon Cedar - mentioned 103 times in the Bible. Photo by Tim Broadbent on Unsplash

Source: Vatican Media

Toward the conclusion of his Wednesday General Audience in St Peter's Square today, the Holy Father made a heartfelt appeal for peace in the Holy Land as the volatile situation there has dramatically deteriorated with the attacks on Lebanon.

The Pope said: "I am saddened by the news coming from Lebanon, where in recent days, intense bombings have caused many victims and destruction."

He said the escalation is "unacceptable" and urged the international community to make "every effort" to stop the descent into violence.

Israeli raids against Hezbollah in the Lebanon have so far killed more than 550 people, including civilians and children, injuring thousands more, forcing hundreds of thousands of people to flee from their homes at short notice.

The Holy Father then prayed for all people in the world suffering from war. He said: "Let us pray, for everyone, for all people who suffer due to war. Let us not forget martyred Ukraine, Myanmar, Palestine, Israel, Sudan, all martyred peoples. Let us pray for peace."

In his greetings to Polish pilgrims, Pope Francis recalled the "tragedy of war" that has been devastating Ukraine since Russia's invasion. "With God's help," he said, "support those who are suffering and in need, who often see no hope."

Finally, the Pope asked the faithful to pray for his Apostolic Journey to Luxembourg and Belgium, which takes place on 26-29 September, "so that it may be an opportunity for a new surge of faith in those countries."

This visit follows Pope Francis' four-nation Apostolic Journey to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, and Singapore earlier this month.