Pope Francis affirmed that we are “experiencing the third world war” and asked to pray for the Ukrainian people. Photo: AFP
Pope Francis recalled the origin of the Second World War, the 83rd anniversary of which this Thursday marks, and denounced that “today we live the third world war“, while inviting us to pray” in a special way for the Ukrainian people “.
“Tomorrow you will remember the outbreak of the Second World War, which painfully marked the Polish nation,” the pontiff told a group of Polish faithful who attended the General Audience in the Paul VI Hall of the Vatican on Wednesday.
World War II began on September 1, 1939 and ended on September 2, 1945.
“Today we are experiencing the third”, the Pope later lamented, taking up a concept that he has already used in other speeches, where he affirms that the conflicts of the new world occur “in part”.
“A few years ago it occurred to me to say we were living a third world war in parts. Now, for me, it has been declared. And this is an aspect that should make us reflect. What happens to humanity that has had three world wars in a century? “, Francis asked in audience last June.
“We have to get out of the familiar pattern that Little Red Riding Hood was good and the wolf was bad. something global emerging, with very intertwined elements“, He added.
In this context, he asked the Poles that “the memory of the experience will lead you to cultivate peace in yourselves, in families and in social and international life”. “We pray in a special way for the Ukrainian people“, He then asked the over 6,000 faithful from all over the world present.
The Pope and a request for the Iraqi people
In his message, the Pope also expressed his “concern for the violent events that have occurred in Baghdad in recent days”.
This week, dozens of supporters of the powerful cleric Muqtada al-Sadr stormed the Iraqi Republican Palace, a ceremonial building in Baghdad’s Green Zone, after the Shiite leader has announced his “definitive retirement” from politicsin the midst of an institutional crisis, after which accidents broke out that caused at least 15 deaths and 350 injuries.
“We ask God in prayer to give peace to the Iraqi people. Last year I had the joy of visiting it and I felt closely the great desire for normality and peaceful coexistence among the various religious communities that make it up “, said the pontiff later in reference to the trip he made in March 2021. .
“Dialogue and fraternity are the best way to face the current difficulties and reach this goal”, he later proposed.
Source: Telam
Source: Clarin
