Pope Francis calls to “hear the cry of peace” on this “Easter of war”

Published on: 04/17/2022 – 12:41 The sovereign pontiff called, on Sunday, “those who have the responsibility of the Nations” to “hear the cry of peace of the people” in this “Easter of war”, evoking the “Martyrized” Ukraine. “We have seen too much blood, too much violence (…) Let’s stop showing the muscles while people are suffering”, launched Pope Francis during his traditional “Urbi et Orbi” blessing, in front of some 50,000 faithful in St. Peter’s Square in Rome on Sunday April 17. “Let’s ask for peace for Jerusalem” The sovereign pontiff also pleaded for “free” access to holy places in Jerusalem, where clashes caused dozens of injured in recent days on the esplanade of the Mosques.” May Israelis, Palestinians and all the inhabitants of the Holy City, together with the pilgrims, experience the beauty of peace, live in brotherhood and freely access the holy places in reciprocal respect for the rights of each,” said Pope Francis. “Let us ask for peace for Jerusalem and peace for those who love it, Christians, Jews and Muslims.” The pope also prayed for “peace for the Middle East, torn apart by years of division and conflict”.Tr The third holiest site in Islam, the Esplanade of the Mosques – also called Temple Mount by the Jews – is located in the Old City in East Jerusalem, an area occupied since 1967 by Israel and the scene of numerous violent clashes between Israeli police and Palestinian demonstrators. On Sunday morning, new clashes between Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli police left a dozen injured in and near the esplanade of the Mosques while the Easter mass, prayers for Pessah, Jewish Passover, and for the Muslim month of Ramadan in the Old City of Jerusalem, the crossroads of the three monotheistic religions. With AFP