ROME (ITALPRESS) – “Beloved, let us live this Lent, all the more in the Jubilee, as a time of healing. I too am experiencing it this way, in soul and body. So I give heartfelt thanks to all those who, in the image of the Savior, are instruments of healing for others by their word and science, by affection and prayer. Frailty and illness are experiences we all share; all the more, however, we are brothers in the salvation Christ has given us.” This is what we read in the text prepared by Pope Francis for the Angelus on this Fourth Sunday of Lent.
“Trusting in the mercy of God the Father, let us continue to pray for peace: in the martyred Ukraine, in Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Myanmar, which is also suffering so much from the earthquake,” the Holy Father added, stressing, “I follow with concern the situation in South Sudan. I renew my heartfelt appeal to all Leaders to put their best efforts to lower the tension in the country. We need to put aside our differences and, with courage and responsibility, sit around a table and engage in constructive dialogue. Only then will it be possible to alleviate the suffering of the beloved South Sudanese people and build a future of peace and stability. And in Sudan, the war continues to claim innocent victims. I urge the parties to the conflict to put the safeguarding of the lives of their civilian brethren first; and I hope that new negotiations, capable of securing a lasting solution to the crisis, will be launched as soon as possible. The international community should increase its efforts to address the appalling humanitarian catastrophe.”
“Thank God,” he continued, “there are also positive facts: for example, I cite the ratification of the Agreement on the delimitation of the border between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, which is an excellent diplomatic achievement. I encourage both countries to continue on this path.” “May Mary, Mother of Mercy, help the human family to be reconciled in peace,” the Pontiff concluded.
– photo Ipa agency –
(ITALPRESS).
