VATICAN CITY. In a powerful condemnation of the international community’s failure to halt the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, Pope Francis criticized what he called a “shameful inability” to bring peace to the region. Marking the first anniversary of Hamas’ devastating attack on Israel, the Pope expressed deep frustration over the lack of effective intervention, writing, “A year ago, the fuse of hatred was lit; it did not sputter but exploded in a spiral of violence.”
In an open letter addressed to Catholics in the Middle East, the 87-year-old pontiff lamented the world’s failure to prioritize dialogue and peace. “It seems that few people care about what is most needed and what is most desired: dialogue and peace,” he wrote. “Violence never brings peace. History proves this, yet years and years of conflict seem to have taught us nothing.”
Monday was declared a day of fasting and prayer for peace by Pope Francis, who has recently become more vocal in his criticism of the ongoing military campaign. On September 29, he strongly condemned Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon that resulted in the death of Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, as well as several non-combatants. He described the attacks as going “beyond morality” and has previously called Israel’s actions “unacceptable.”
In his letter, Pope Francis also reached out directly to the people of Gaza, offering his solidarity to those affected by the war. “I am with you, the people of Gaza, long-embattled and in dire straits. You are in my thoughts and prayers daily,” he said. He expressed concern for civilians forced to flee their homes and endure continuous bombings: “I am with you, who have been forced to leave your homes, to abandon schooling and work and to find a place of refuge from the bombing… I am with you, who are afraid to look up for fear of fire raining down from the skies.”
Pope Francis has long advocated for peace through dialogue and reiterated his stance that violence only perpetuates suffering. In his message, he called for a renewed focus on diplomacy, urging leaders to seek peaceful solutions to the conflict. “It is dialogue and peace that the world most desperately needs,” he emphasized.
The Pope’s call for peace comes as part of his broader efforts to address global crises through nonviolent means, reminding the world of the ongoing humanitarian toll the conflict has taken on the people of Gaza and Israel alike.
Gary P Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
