At the end of the Angelus, the Holy Father Francis appeared on the balcony of the fifth floor of Rome’s A. Gemelli University Hospital to greet and bless the faithful gathered on the hospital forecourt. The Pope emphasized the importance of patience, which leads people to conversion. The Pontiff stressed the care of the medical staff who assisted him and then expressed his sorrow for the resumption of the bombing of Gaza. He expressed hope for the agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Before returning to Casa Santa Marta after leaving the hospital, Pope Francis went to Santa Maria Maggiore and gave His Eminence Cardinal Makrickas some flowers to place before the icon of Our Lady of Salus Populi Romani. He then returned to the Vatican.

We publish below the text prepared by the Holy Father Francis for the Angelus on this Third Sunday of Lent:

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Text prepared by the Holy Father

Dear brothers and sisters, happy Sunday!

The parable in today’s Gospel tells us about the patience of God, who urges us to make our life a time of conversion. Jesus uses the image of a barren fig tree, which has not borne the anticipated fruit and which, nevertheless, the farmer does not want to cut down: he wants to fertilize it again since “it may bear fruit in the future” (Lk 13:9). This patient farmer is the Lord, who works the soil of our lives with care and waits confidently for our return to Him.

In this long period of my hospitalization, I have had the opportunity to experience the Lord’s patience, which I also see reflected in the tireless care of the doctors and healthcare workers, as well as in the care and hopes of the relatives of the sick. This trusting patience, anchored in God’s unfailing love, is indeed necessary in our lives, especially when facing the most difficult and painful situations.

I am saddened by the resumption of heavy Israeli bombing on the Gaza Strip, causing many deaths and injuries. I call for an immediate halt to the weapons; and for the courage to resume dialogue, so that all hostages may be released and a final ceasefire reached. In the Strip, the humanitarian situation is again very serious and requires urgent commitment from the conflicting parties and the international community.

On the other hand, I am pleased that Armenia and Azerbaijan have agreed on the final text of the peace agreement. I hope that it may be signed as soon as possible, and may thus contribute to establishing lasting peace in the South Caucasus.

You are continuing to pray for me with great patience and perseverance: thank you very much! I pray for you too. And together, let us pray for an end to wars and for peace, especially in tormented Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Myanmar, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

May the Virgin Mary keep you and continue to accompany us on our journey towards Easter.