Pope sends message to Arab TV channel

[Michie]

“God is peace and he desires peace. Those who believe in him cannot fail to repudiate war, which does not resolve but only increases hostilities." Children "need homes, parks and schools, not tombs and mass graves."

Pope Francis sent a message to the Saudi-owned and based Al Arabiya network, an international Arabic television channel, noting the “happy coincidence” this year of the end of Ramadan falling close to Easter, and the contrast of the joy of the holidays with the tension in the Middle East.

The message was broadcast on the evening of April 12, 2024, in the context of the sharp rise in tensions between Israel and Iran, which risks dragging the Middle East, already affected by the conflict in Gaza, into a war of even greater magnitude.

In the message, released also by the Vatican on April 12, the Pope reflected that the joy of these holidays “stands in sharp contrast with the sorrow we feel for the blood presently being shed in the blessed lands of the Middle East.”

Brothers and sisters, our father Abraham raised his eyes to heaven to gaze at the stars. The light of life, which shines all around us and embraces us from on high, calls us to leave behind the dark night of hatred, so that, in accordance with the Creator’s will, stars may shine brightly upon our world, rather than the glare of missiles lighting up the heavens and raining down fire to devastate the earth!

God is peace​

Continued below.

Pope sends message to Arab TV, urging peace in Mideast

"God is peace and he desires peace. Those who believe in him cannot fail to repudiate war, which does not resolve but only increases hostilities."

aleteia.org

 

[AlexB23]

“God is peace and he desires peace. Those who believe in him cannot fail to repudiate war, which does not resolve but only increases hostilities." Children "need homes, parks and schools, not tombs and mass graves."

Pope Francis sent a message to the Saudi-owned and based Al Arabiya network, an international Arabic television channel, noting the “happy coincidence” this year of the end of Ramadan falling close to Easter, and the contrast of the joy of the holidays with the tension in the Middle East.

The message was broadcast on the evening of April 12, 2024, in the context of the sharp rise in tensions between Israel and Iran, which risks dragging the Middle East, already affected by the conflict in Gaza, into a war of even greater magnitude.

In the message, released also by the Vatican on April 12, the Pope reflected that the joy of these holidays “stands in sharp contrast with the sorrow we feel for the blood presently being shed in the blessed lands of the Middle East.”

God is peace​

Continued below.

Pope sends message to Arab TV, urging peace in Mideast

"God is peace and he desires peace. Those who believe in him cannot fail to repudiate war, which does not resolve but only increases hostilities."

aleteia.org

We need peace in the Middle East. It seems that the Middle East has always been under conflict, due to the greed for oil, differences in religion and corrupt politicians.


Here is a summary of the article:

In an interview with the Saudi-owned Al Arabiya network on April 12, 2024, Pope Francis expressed his deep concern over the rising tensions between Israel and Iran in the Middle East, which could potentially lead to a larger war. He emphasized that the joy of the holidays, such as Ramadan and Easter, stands in contrast with the sorrow caused by the ongoing violence and shedding of blood in the region.

Francis called for an end to war, emphasizing that God is a symbol of peace and those who believe in Him cannot support war. He criticized war as a road leading nowhere and a failure that increases hostilities rather than resolving conflicts. The Pope also urged the release of hostages taken in October, an end to fighting in Gaza, and a two-state solution in the Holy Land.

Furthermore, Francis defended the rights of Christians in the Middle East to freely practice their faith and expressed his suffering over the conflict in Palestine and Israel. He called for an immediate cease-fire and an end to the spread of violence, emphasizing that the hearts of ordinary people desire peace.

The Pope expressed his belief in the potential for deserts to flower if individuals and peoples learn to grow together, respect each other's beliefs, recognize the right to existence of every people, and live in peace. He concluded by greeting his listeners with affection and wishing them all good things and blessings from the Most High.