Ukraine, new appeal from the Pope: “War is madness, stop”

“I renew the invitation to end the war. That concrete steps be taken to end the war and avert the risk of a nuclear disaster in Zaporizhzhia. And I am thinking of the prisoners, especially those who are in fragile conditions, and I ask the responsible authorities to work for their release “. Pope Francis said this at the end of the general audience in the Paul VI Hall, still addressing the theme of war. “Today we think in a special way because it is six months since the beginning of the war in Ukraine – the Pontiff pointed out – Ukraine and Russia, both countries I consecrated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary that she, Mother who sees everything, sees Ukraine, see Russia and bring us peace we need peace “. “I think of the children, many dead, then many refugees, here there are many. – Pope Francis continues – Many injured. Many Ukrainian and Russian children have become orphans, they have lost their fathers or mothers are Russian, they are Ukrainians. I think of so much cruelty, to so many innocent people who are paying for the madness, madness, madness of all sides, because war is madness. And no one in war cannot say ‘I’m not, I’m not mad’. The madness of war ” . “I think of the poor girl who flew into the air for a bomb under the car seat in Moscow, – continues Pope Francis referring to the death of Darya Dugina in an attack in Moscow – the innocent pay for the war, the innocent! Let’s think about this reality and let’s tell each other war is madness. And those who gain from war, from the arms trade, are criminals who kill humanity “. “And let’s think of other countries that have been at war for some time, Syria or Yemen where many children are starving, and let’s think of the Rohingya, unjustly expelled from their land. We need peace”, concluded Pope Francis.