Pope Francis on Wednesday expressed
his dismay at the killing of seven aid workers delivering food
in Gaza for the World Central Kitchen charity in an Israeli
strike this week.
"I again renew my firm request for an immediate ceasefire in the
Gaza Strip," Francis said at the end of his weekly general
audience.
"I express my deep sorrow for the volunteers killed while they
were distributing humanitarian aid in Gaza.
"I pray for them and for their families and I renew my appeal
for access to humanitarian aid to be allowed to the exhausted,
suffering civilian population and for the hostages (held by
Hamas) to be immediately released".
He also showed the rosary and copy of the New Testament of a
young Ukrainian soldier killed in the war sparked by the Russian
invasion.
"I would like everyone to be silent for a moment and think of
this boy and the many others like him who have died in this
madness of war," the pontiff said.
"War always destroys. Let us think of them and pray".
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