Let us continue to pray and fight for peace, without getting tired”, Pope Francis said today after the recitation of the Regina Coeli this Sunday, June 5, 2022, with the faithful and pilgrims gathered in Saint Peter’s Square.
“On Pentecost, God’s dream for humanity came true. Fifty days after Easter, peoples speaking different languages met and understood each other. But now, a hundred days after the beginning of the armed aggression against Ukraine, the nightmare of war, which is the denial of God’s dream,” the Pope lamented.
Finally, he greeted the faithful and pilgrims gathered in Saint Peter’s Square, wishing everyone a happy Sunday.
Below are the Pope’s words after Regina Coeli, offered by the Holy See Press Office:
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Words of the Pope
On Pentecost, God’s dream for humanity becomes reality; fifty days after Easter, peoples who speak different languages encounter and understand one another. But now, one hundred days after the beginning of the armed aggression against Ukraine, the nightmare of war, which is the negation of God’s dream, has once again befallen humanity: peoples in conflict with one another, peoples who kill each other, people being driven from their homes instead of being brought closer. And while the fury of destruction and death rampages and the conflicts rage on, fuelling an escalation that is increasingly dangerous for all, I renew my appeal to the leaders of Nations: do not lead humanity into ruin, please! Do not lead humanity into ruin, please! Let true negotiations take place, real talks for a ceasefire and for a sustainable solution. Let the desperate cry of the suffering people be heard – we see this every day in the media – have respect for human life and stop the macabre destruction of cities and villages in the east of Ukraine. Let us continue, please, to pray and to strive tirelessly for peace.
Yesterday in Beirut, two Friars Minor Capuchin were beatified: Leonardo Melki and Thomas George Saleh, priests and martyrs, killed in hatred of the faith in Turkey in 1915 and 1917 respectively. These two Lebanese missionaries, in a hostile context, proved their unshakeable faith in God and self-sacrifice for their neighbour. May their example strengthen our Christian witness. They were young – they were not even 35 years old. A round of applause for the new Blesseds!
I have learned with satisfaction that the truce in Yemen has been renewed for another two months. Thanks to God, and to you. I hope that this sign of hope may be a further step to put an end to that bloody conflict, which has caused one of the worst humanitarian crises of our times. Please, do not forget to spare a thought for the children of Yemen: hunger, destruction, lack of education, lack of everything. Let us think of the children!
I would like to assure you of my prayers for the victims of the landslides caused by torrential rains in the metropolitan region of Recife, Brazil.
I greet all of you, Romans and pilgrims! I greet the “Advocacy in Mission” Association; the members of the International Reconciliation Movement and the Nonviolent Movement; the French “Saint Louis” scout group, the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul and the Evangelii Gaudium fraternity. I greet the faithful of Piacenza d’Adige, the Choir of Castelfidardo, the young people of Pollone and those of Cassina de’ Pecchi – I remember when I visited these places many years ago -, the pilgrims from the Antoniani Sanctuaries of Camposampiero and the cyclists of Sarcedo, and I also greet the young people of the Immacolata.
I express my closeness to fishermen: let us think of fishermen who, due to the increase in the cost of petrol, risk having to stop working, and I extend this to all the categories of worker gravely afflicted by the consequences of the conflict in Ukraine.
I pray for you; pray for me. I wish you all a blessed Sunday. Enjoy your meal, and arrivederci!
