The Pope Calls For An End To The "cycle Of Death" In The Middle East And Burma

On Sunday, Pope Francis issued calls for establishing peace in the Middle East and Burma, warning in particular of a “cycle of death and destruction” in the confrontations between the Palestinians and the Israelis.

On Sunday morning, Pope Francis held a mass devoted to Burma, reiterating his calls for peace and an end to violence in the fourth month of the bloody suppression of civilians at the hands of the ruling junta.

The mass, which was revived in St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, comes after several calls for peace launched by the Supreme Pontiff in recent months, after he visited Burma in November 2017. It was the first papal visit to a country with a Buddhist majority.

Pope Francis referred to the confrontations in the Middle East, describing the deaths of innocent civilians as “horrible and unacceptable.”

He said, “A solution must be found with the help of the international community” to stop “the escalation of violence and hatred that cause great injury to the brotherhood, which is difficult to treat if we do not open up to dialogue.”

“Many people were injured and many innocent people were killed, including children. It is horrible and unacceptable,” he added.

“I wonder: Where will the hatred and revenge lead? Do we really think that we can establish peace by destroying each other?”

The Pope, who usually deals with current events during the Sunday sermon, urged calm in the Middle East, saying, “I call for calm and I appeal to decision-makers to silence the sound of weapons and the conduct of the path of peace with the help of the international community.”

In his sermon, the 84-year-old Pope avoided publicly criticizing the military regime in Burma that overthrew the government of Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1, calling on the faithful to “stand firm in the truth” and not lose hope.

He said, “Dear brothers and sisters, in these days when your beloved country, Burma, is witnessing violence, conflict and oppression, let us ask ourselves: What are we called to preserve? In the first place, the preservation of faith.”

Pope Francis called for unity, describing the division between societies and peoples as a “fatal disease.”

“I know that some political and social positions are greater than us. Nevertheless, commitment to peace and brotherhood always comes from ordinary people: everyone can make a difference in the little things,” he added.

And he continued, “In the midst of war, violence, hatred, adherence to the gospel and our being peacemakers, this also requires commitment through social and political options, even if we risk our lives.

 

SOURCE  KUWAITOFFERINGS

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