In response to the dire situation in Gaza, Pope Francis made a plea for all parties involved to disarm during his weekly General Audience on October 18, 2023.
He expressed deep concern about the escalating crisis and emphasized the need to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe.
The Pope stressed that war doesn’t offer solutions but instead results in death, destruction, increased hatred, and a cycle of revenge.
He underscored the importance of choosing the path of peace.
These remarks followed a deadly airstrike on a Gaza hospital the previous day, which resulted in hundreds of casualties.
The ongoing conflict in Gaza had its origins in actions by both Hamas and the Israeli military. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire to alleviate the suffering caused by the conflict.
The casualty figures stand at more than 3,300 Palestinians and over 1,400 people in Israel.
(ai/mnm)
