Pope Francis calls for peace in Sudan and Colombia, honors Holocaust victims, and Promotes Fraternity

Pope Francis has called for an end to the ongoing conflict in Sudan, which began in April 2023, urging warring parties to cease hostilities and engage in peace negotiations on January 26, during Sunday Angelus.

Highlighting the devastating humanitarian crisis affecting Sudan and its dramatic impact on neighboring South Sudan, the Pope appealed to the international community to support peace talks and facilitate humanitarian aid.

“I stand close to the people of both countries and invite them to fraternity, solidarity, to avoid all forms of violence, and not to allow themselves to be manipulated,” he said.

The pope also expressed concern for the situation in Colombia’s Catatumbo region, where armed clashes have resulted in numerous civilian casualties and displaced over 30,000 people. “I express my closeness to them and pray,” he added.

On the eve of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Pope Francis reflected on the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.

He stressed the importance of remembering the atrocities of the Holocaust, including the extermination of millions of Jewish people and others of various faiths, and urged collective efforts to combat anti-Semitism, discrimination, and religious persecution.

“The horror of the extermination of millions of Jewish people and others of different faiths during those years must never be forgotten or denied,” he said, referencing Hungarian-born poet Edith Bruck as a symbol of resilience.

He also honored the memory of Christians who were martyred in Nazi death camps.

The Pope called for the creation of a more fraternal and just world by educating young people in the spirit of fraternity, forgiveness, and peace.

Marking World Leprosy Day, Pope Francis encouraged the integration of people suffering from Hansen’s Disease into society.

He also greeted media professionals gathered in Rome for the Jubilee for the World of Communications, urging them to “always be narrators of hope.”