War represents defeat, madness, pope says, calling for prayer January 3, 2024By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, Vatican, War in Ukraine, World News VATICAN CITY (CNS) — War is madness, Pope Francis said, calling for prayers for all people in the world affected by today’s conflicts. “Let us not forget the people at war,” he said at the end of his general audience in the Paul VI Audience Hall Jan. 3. “War is madness, war is always a defeat,” he said. “Let us pray for the people in Palestine, in Israel, in Ukraine and in many other places where there is war. And let us not forget our Rohingya brothers and sisters who are persecuted,” he said. The Rohingya people are a Muslim minority persecuted by the military regime in Myanmar. In his greetings to Polish visitors, the pope asked people to pray for a heart that is “sensitive to the needs of the poor, refugees and victims of war.” “I ask the Lord for the gift of peace,” he said. Read More Vatican News Journalists launch initiative to bring letters from Venezuelan quake survivors to Pope Leo XIV Young American missionaries get papal shoutout during summer in Rome Pope Leo takes road trip to mountainside shrines during his summer vacation Pope Leo quotes Bob Dylan song in book foreword calling for nuclear disarmament Pope Leo XIV makes surprise visit to pray for peace at the tomb of St. Benedict Ukraine remains hopeful for a papal visit, ambassador says Copyright © 2024 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Print
