Pope renews plea for peace, highlighting the suffering of children in conflict zones

Pope renews plea for peace, highlighting the suffering of children in conflict zones

Vatican news

Pope Francis renews his call for peace worldwide while calling for the protection of children in the fields of conflicts, in particular in the eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

By Francesca Merlo

At the end of the recitation of Angelus prayer on Sunday, Pope Francis again renewed his call for peace in the world. As usual, his call stressed the importance of restoring peace in a world devastated by conflicts. “I once again assert” no “to war,” he said before exhorting the world leaders to intensify diplomatic efforts to end wars.

For children of the world

The Pope’s call intervenes on the eve of a summit, which will be organized by the Vatican on Monday, February 3, on the rights of children. On the theme “Let them and the protectors”, The summit will bring together children’s rights defenders around the world.

Pope Francis stressed that this summit presents “a unique opportunity to carry the most urgent problems concerning the life of children for the attention of the world”. He explained his joy to host and participate in the event, inviting the faithful to pray for his success.

The Pope’s summit and call for peace and the protection of children around the world presents itself at a time when humanitarian crises afflict all corners of the globe. In the midst of violent conflicts, they are the youngest whose life is the most affected. Pope Francis reiterated his attraction that war “destroys, devastates everything, takes lives and leads to contempt for life itself,” before adding that “war is always a defeat”.

Peace in the DRC

While the church marks the year of the jubilee, Pope Francis turned to world leaders, and in particular those of the Christian faith, exhorting them “to fully engage in negotiations aimed at putting an end to all conflicts in progress”. In particular, his appeal called at the end of suffering caused by conflicts in Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Myanmar, Sudan and Northern Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo – all of them needed peace.

The call of the Pope for Peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in northern Kivu, recalls the violence that the province has been confronted for decades, where armed groups terrorize the communities and where millions of people have been moved Without access to houses, education, health care or even food and water. Families have been torn apart and children find themselves without even the most basic needs to survive.

While the most intense and prolonged violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo is concentrated in the Eastern provinces, for which Pope Francis prayed – in particular, northern Kivu, southern Kivu, Ituri and Maniema and Tanganyika games – other regions are also experimenting with instability.

According to the United Nations, in April 2024, 7.3 million people were moved to the DRC.

A member of the Congolese Red Cross places a label on a body bag after collecting bodies in the port of Goma. February 1, 2025

A member of the Congolese Red Cross places a label on a body bag after collecting bodies in the port of Goma. February 1, 2025

The reiteration of a call, a year later

Two years ago, Pope Francis visited the Democratic Republic of Congo and met with the victims of current violence in the eastern part of the country. During his trip, which took place from January 31 to February 5, 2023, the Pope denounced “economic colonialism” which fuels the cycle of bloodshed and he urged the world not to ignore the suffering of people of the DRC. Also on this occasion, the Pope reminded the international community his responsibility for acting and not to remain in silence.

A year later, the attraction of Pope Francis is still possible for the DRC and for all people of all suffering nations.

A man holds a sign that reads, in Italian, "Pope Francis, we want peace in the DRC"While people gathered for the sacred mass chaired by Pope Francis in Kinshasa, during his apostolic trip to the DRC. February 2, 2023

A man holds a sign that reads, in Italian, “Pope Francis, we want peace in the DRC”, while people gathered for the sacred mass chaired by Pope Francis in Kinshasa, during his apostolic trip to the DRC . February 2, 2023

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