Pope Francis urges ceasefire amid anniversary of Hamas attack on Israel

In his traditional Sunday sermon, Pope Francis marked the anniversary of the infiltration by Hamas militants from Gaza into Israel, urging a ceasefire across all fronts in the Middle East.

"Tomorrow marks one year since the terrorist attack on the population in Israel, to whom I express my spiritual closeness. We must not forget that hostages remain in Gaza, and I call for their release," the pontiff stated, Caliber.Az report per foreign media.

He emphasized that the violence has led to "destructive military actions," affecting the Palestinian population in desperate need of assistance.

"I plead for a ceasefire on all fronts, including Lebanon. Let us pray for the Lebanese people, especially those in the southern part of the country. I appeal to the international community to end the ideology of vendetta, so that attacks like the one carried out by Iran a few days ago do not recur, as this could lead to a broader war in the region. All nations have the right to peace and security, and their territories should not be subjected to attack. Sovereignty must be guaranteed through dialogue, not war," the Pope urged.

Pope Francis also announced his intention to visit the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore later in the day to offer prayers to the Virgin Mary for peace. Furthermore, he declared October 7 as a day of fasting and prayer for peace for all Catholics.

The current escalation in the region began on October 7, 2023, when armed Hamas members infiltrated Israeli territory, leading to the deaths of residents in border settlements and the capture of over 240 hostages. In response, Israel launched a military operation aimed at dismantling Hamas's military and political structures and securing the release of hostages.

By Khagan Isayev