Pope Francis has called for an immediate end to Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip and urged all parties to resume talks aimed at freeing hostages and securing a lasting ceasefire.
In a message released during his Sunday Angelus prayer, the 88-year-old pontiff expressed sorrow over the renewed violence. “I am saddened by the resumption of the intense Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip, with so many deaths and injuries,” he said.
Francis emphasized the urgency of silencing weapons and finding the courage to restart dialogue, describing the humanitarian situation in Gaza as “very serious” and calling on the international community to act swiftly.
The Pope made the appeal shortly before being discharged from Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, where he had been receiving treatment for over five weeks due to respiratory issues that led to pneumonia. Before returning to the Vatican, he appeared in a wheelchair on a hospital balcony to wave to a crowd of well-wishers chanting his name. It marked his first public appearance since his hospitalization began on February 14.
