After praying the Angelus, the Holy Father continued:
Dear brothers and sisters,
I am following with concern what is happening in Ecuador. I am near to the people and encourage all parties to abandon violence and extreme positions. Let us learn: only through dialogue can social peace be achieved – I hope soon – with particular attention to the marginalized populations and the poorest, but always respecting everyone’s rights and those of the country’s institutions.
I would like to express my closeness to the relatives and fellow sisters of Sister Luisa Dell’Orto, a Little Sister of the Gospel of Saint Charles de Foucauld, who was killed yesterday in Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti. For twenty years, Sister Luisa lived there, dedicated above all to serving children on the streets. I entrust her soul to God, and I pray for the Haitian people, especially for the least, so they might have a more serene future, without misery and without violence. Sister Luisa made a gift of her life to others even to martyrdom.
I greet all of you from Rome and pilgrims from Italy and so many countries. I see an Argentine flag, my fellow citizens, I greet you. In particular, I greet the faithful from Lisbon, the students from the Notre-Dame de Sainte-Croix Institute from Neuilly in France, and those from Telfs, in Austria. I greet the members of the Polyphonic Chorale from Riesi, the group of parents from Rovigo and the Blessed Serafino Morazzone pastoral community from Maggianico. I see Ukrainian flags there. Bombardments continue there in Ukraine which are causing death, destruction and suffering for the population. Please, let us not forget these people afflicted by the war. Let us not forget this in our heart and with our prayers.
I hope you all have a good Sunday. And, please, do not forget to pray for me. Enjoy your lunch and arrivederci.
