Pope Francis made a new appeal for peace in Gaza and Ukraine on Wednesday, expressing his deep sorrow over the deaths of aid workers in an Israeli airstrike and praising a Ukrainian soldier killed in the war against Russia. In his weekly sermon, Pope Francis stated, "I express my deep regret for the volunteers who were killed while participating in the distribution of humanitarian aid in Gaza. I pray for them and for their families."
He reiterated his call for an "immediate" ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all Israeli hostages taken by Hamas militants, and the full access of humanitarian aid, warning of an "irresponsible" escalation of the conflict. Speaking about the Ukrainian soldier, referred to as a "martyr," Pope Francis told the crowds in St. Peter's Square that he held in his hands a copy of the New Testament and some beads from the rosary belonging to the Ukrainian soldier who was killed at the age of 23. He added, "I want all of us, at this moment, to be silent for a while and think of this young man and many like him who died in the folly of this war. War always destroys; let us think of them and pray." The Vatican leader noted that the soldier, named Oleksandr, was killed in the city of Avdiivka in eastern Ukraine, which was seized by Russia in February.
