Pope prays for Easter peace to fill places torn by war

By Devin Watkins

As the Church celebrated Easter Monday, Pope Francis renewed his constant call for peace.

He prayed that the Lord's gift of peace “may reach the places where it is most needed, especially the people exhausted by war, hunger and all forms of oppression.”

The pope made the appeal after reciting the Regina Coeli, the traditional Easter Marian prayer, with pilgrims in St. Peter's Square.

Pope Francis also thanked all those who sent him Easter greetings.

“I renew my Easter wishes to everyone and I thank from the bottom of my heart all those who sent me messages of closeness and prayer,” he said. “May the gift of peace of the risen Lord reach these people, their families and their communities. »

Pope Francis prays to the Regina Coeli

Easter calls for peace

A day earlier, at Easter Urbi and orbi In his speech, the Pope reflected at length on the many conflicts shaking our world.

He first spoke about the war between Israel and Hamas that has caused death and destruction in the Holy Land, praying that humanitarian aid would be allowed into Gaza and that Hamas would release the more than 100 Israeli hostages captured on October 7, 2023.

Pope Francis also recalled the horrors of the Russian war in Ukraine, calling for a general exchange of prisoners of war.

His thoughts also turned to the lost smiles of children enduring war.

“With their gaze, they ask us: 'Why? Why so many deaths? Why so much destruction? he said. “War is always an absurdity. War is always a defeat!