After two members of the UN peacekeeping forces suffered injuries following two explosions near a UN observation tower in Lebanon, Pope Francis has called for respect for the peacekeepers.
“I ask the United Nations peacekeeping forces to be respected,” the pope said in a message on Sunday.
The UN has also reported that two Israeli tanks have forcibly entered a base of peacekeeping forces in southern Lebanon before dawn on Sunday.
“This is a serious development, and UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon) reiterates that the safety and security of UN personnel and property must be guaranteed and that the inviolability of UN premises must be respected at all times,” the statement added.
Pope Francis also called for a prompt suspension of hostilities and a peaceful solution to the conflict.
“I continue to follow with concern what is happening in the Middle East, and I ask once again for an immediate ceasefire on all fronts,” he said. “Let us pursue the paths of diplomacy and dialogue to achieve peace.”
The pope expressed hope that the conflict would end soon.
“I pray for all the victims, for the displaced, for the hostages whom I hope will soon be released,” he said.
He also noted that war is a destruction and does not create accord.
“Brothers and sisters, war is an illusion, it is a defeat: it will never lead to peace, it will never lead to security, it is a defeat for all, especially for those who believe themselves invincible,” he said. “Stop, please!”
The pope also appealed “for the Ukrainians not to be left to freeze to death; stop the air strikes against the civilian population, always the most affected. Stop the killing of innocent people!”
The pope said he’s also following the situation in Haiti, “where violence continues against the population, forced to flee from their own homes in search of safety elsewhere, inside and outside the country.”
“Let us never forget our Haitian brothers and sisters,” he said. “I ask everyone to pray for an end to all forms of violence and, with the commitment of the international community, to continue working to build peace and reconciliation in the country, always defending the dignity and rights of all.”
He also invited the people to ask for Mary’s intervention in the suffering of people due to war.
“Let us entrust to the intercession of Our Lady the tormented in Ukraine, Myanmar, Sudan and the other populations who suffer because of war and any form of violence and misery,” Pope Francis said.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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