Pope Francis called for a ceasefire in Gaza during a brief appearance before thousands of Catholic pilgrims gathered in St Peter’s Square for the Vatican’s open-air Easter Sunday mass. Israeli forces have killed at least 29 people in Gaza since dawn on Sunday.
Still recovering from a near-fatal pneumonia, Francis appeared on the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica on Sunday as an aide read out his “Urbi et Orbi” – Latin for “to the city and the world” – benediction, in which the pope condemned the “deplorable humanitarian situation” caused by Israel’s 18-month war on the Palestinian territory.
“I appeal to the warring parties: call a ceasefire, release the hostages and come to the aid of a starving people that aspires to a future of peace.”
The Pope’s prayers extended to the Christian communities in Lebanon and in Syria, “presently experiencing a delicate transition in its history,” and urged the whole Church “to keep the Christians of the beloved Middle East in its thoughts and prayers.”
Turning then to Yemen, “experiencing one of the world’s most serious and prolonged humanitarian crises because of war,” Pope Francis invited all those involved to find a solution “through a constructive dialogue.”
Meanwhile, Israel prevented the entry of the “Apostolic Nuncio,” the Vatican ambassador to Palestine, Archbishop Adolfo Tito Yllana, into the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to attend the Holy Saturday commemoration.
The Governorate of Jerusalem, in a statement issued this Saturday evening, condemned the “blatant assaults” committed by the Israeli occupation authorities against members of our Palestinian people from the Christian community during their celebration of Holy Saturday.
These assaults included preventing them from reaching the city of Jerusalem and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and obstructing their ability to freely perform their religious rituals. The Governorate considered these actions a blatant violation of all international conventions and divine laws.
The Governorate expressed its deep astonishment and dismay at the suspicious international silence, stating: “We particularly denounce the complicity of the international community and the failure of those who have failed to stand with our brothers, both Muslims and Christians, in Palestine and especially in Jerusalem.”
Francis had been ramping up criticism of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, calling the situation “very serious and shameful” in January.
