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CV NEWS FEED // After meeting with relatives of Israeli and Palestinian hostages on Wednesday, Pope Francis told those present at his General Audience that the conflict has “gone beyond wars” and into “terrorism.”
The pope gave his unscripted remarks in two meetings which he held in his private residence, with families of hostages currently detained by Hamas and Israeli Defence Forces (IDF).
The comments come in the wake of recent news of a temporary ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal brokered by Qatari officials. Hamas has agreed to release 50 women and children out of the estimated 240 hostages captured during the October 7 offensive in exchange for 150 Palestinian prisoners.
The Holy Father noted the suffering endured by those on both sides of the conflict. “This is what wars do,” he said. “But we have gone beyond wars. This is not war. This is terrorism.”
Pope Francis also asked audience members to pray for both sides of the conflict, so that they would “not go ahead with passions, which in the end, kill everyone.”
According to a Reuters news report, Palestinian audience members “held up pictures of bodies wrapped in white cloth” and signs condemning the ongoing crisis in Gaza during the pope’s address.
The pope also reminded his audience to continue praying for those afflicted by conflict in other parts of the world, especially Ukraine.
