VATICAN CITY — On what is meant to be Christianity’s most joyful day, Pope Francis made an anguished Easter Sunday plea for peace within the “senseless” struggle in Ukraine and in different armed conflicts raging on this planet.
“May there be peace for war-torn Ukraine, so sorely tried by the violence and destruction of this cruel and senseless war into which it was dragged,” Francis stated, talking from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Square.
The pontiff had simply completed celebrating Easter Mass within the sq. packed by devoted for the vacation for the primary time because the pandemic started in early 2020. Applause erupted from most of the crowd, estimated by the Vatican to quantity 100,000 within the sq. and on a close-by avenue, when he talked about Ukraine.
“Please, please, let us not get used to war,” Francis pleaded, after denouncing “the flexing of muscles while people are suffering.” Yet once more, the pontiff didn’t cite Russian President Vladimir Putin for the choice to launch the invasion and assaults towards Ukraine on Feb. 24.
People’s hearts are stuffed with “fear and anguish, as so many of our brothers and sisters have had to lock themselves away in order to be safe from bombing,” the pontiff stated.
“Let us all commit ourselves to imploring peace, from our balconies and in our streets,” Francis stated. “May the leaders of nations hear people’s plea for peace.”
In a transparent reference to the specter of nuclear warfare, Francis quoted from a manifesto written by thinker Bertrand Russell and physicist Albert Einstein: “‘Shall we put an end to the human race, or shall mankind renounce war?’”
Source: www.bostonherald.com”