At Sunday's Regina Coeli Pope Francis voiced his concern over the recent violence in Gaza and in Israel, which he says could lead to a “spiral of death and destruction.”
Over the past week the Pope has been closely following the increasing tensions in Jerusalem and the Israeli military offensive on militant tunnels running through Gaza.
POPE FRANCIS
'Many people have been wounded and many innocent people have died. Among them children. This is terrible and unacceptable. Their death is a sign that they are not trying to build the future, but destroy it'.
The Pope called on Israel and Palestine to open dialogue with one another as soon as possible, so as not to increase tensions between them.
POPE FRANCIS
'Do we really intend to build peace by destroying others? In the name of God, who created all human beings equal in rights, duties and dignity, and called them to live together as brothers, I am calling for calm and for those responsible to end the use of arms and to embark on the path of peace'.
The Pope asked the pilgrims in St. Peter's square to pray for Israel and Palestine to engage in dialogue with patience, and to ultimately build a peaceful coexistence.
Earlier the Pope had reflected on the feast of the Ascension of Jesus, and explained its significance for Christians.
POPE FRANCIS
'A human body is now at the right hand of the Father for the first time: the body of Jesus. In this mystery each of us contemplates our future destiny'.
The Pope also recalled the beatification of the German priest Francis Mary of the Cross Jordan, founder of the Salvatorian religious congregation, which took place only a few hours earlier. The thousand member congregation shares the Gospel with non-believers in 40 countries around the world.
JMB
TR: JM
