"A year ago, the fuse of hatred was lit, which did not explode, but exploded in a spiral of violence, in the shameful inability of the international community and the most powerful countries to silence the weapons and put an end to the tragedy of war. Blood is still being shed and tears are still being shed. Anger and the desire for revenge are growing while few seem to care about what is most needed and most wanted: dialogue and peace," he said in an open letter to Catholics in the Middle East.
The 87-year-old pope earlier declared Oct. 7 a global day of prayer and fasting for peace, following similar initiatives for other conflicts in recent years.
In his letter, the leader of the world's nearly 1.4 billion Catholics expressed solidarity with his followers in the region - "a small, defenceless flock" - on "this sad day".
But the Pope also addressed "men and women of every creed and religion who in the Middle East suffer from the folly of war: 'I am close to you, I am with you'."
"I am with you who have no voice because, despite all the talk of plans and strategies, few are concerned about those who suffer the ravages of war that the powerful impose on others, but they will be subjected to the inexorable judgment of God," he said. | BGNES
