Pope Francis demonstrated impeccable physical form this Sunday at the midday Angelus, without coughing or hesitating, which seems to demonstrate that he managed to control his bronchitis from which he had been suffering since November and the mild flu that has afflicted him in recent weeks. Looking out the third-floor window of the apostolic palace, Francisco came to his senses demand world peaceespecially in the invaded Ukraine and in the war between Hamas and Israel.
But attention on the serious deterioration of the world situation due to the wars was concentrated on an interview that the Pope gave to Italian-Swiss television, known yesterday because in it he uttered very firm words.
With reference to Ukraine, the Argentine pontiff, responding to a question from his interviewer, urged President Volodimir Zelenskyj to “have the courage” to raise the “white flag” and negotiate war with Russia.
“The situation is stronger than this, which thinks of the Ukrainian people, who have the courage of the white flag to negotiate.”
“The word negotiate is courageous,” he added.” The Vatican clarified that the Pope spoke of a white flag as a willingness to negotiate and not to give up.
Pope Francis overlooks St. Peter’s Square for his traditional prayer. (EFE)“When you see that you are defeated, that things are not going well, you must have the courage to negotiate. You’re ashamed but with how many deaths will it end? Today it was possible to negotiate in time, look for some mediating countries. There are many of them in the war in Ukraine. Türkiye did it,” Francisco explained.
He added that “there is no shame in negotiating before the situation gets worse.”
Swiss television has announced that the interview will be broadcast to the public on Wednesday 20th. Some Italian media have anticipated some fragments of it.
Francis also reflected on the ongoing war in Gaza. Israel began bombing and ground operations after the Hamas attack on October 7. Palestinians have so far suffered around 30,000 deaths, most of them civilians, including 12,000 children.
The Pope said in the interview that «every day I call the parish of Gaza (whose priest is Argentinian) «Six hundred people live there and they tell what they see. But the war is between two.”
Francisco said that “the irresponsible ones are these two who are making war on each other”.
Source: Clarin
Mary Ortiz is a seasoned journalist with a passion for world events. As a writer for News Rebeat, she brings a fresh perspective to the latest global happenings and provides in-depth coverage that offers a deeper understanding of the world around us.