On October 7, 2023, Hamas stormed the border with Israel. This week marks the one-year anniversary of the attack, which unleashed a spiral of violence in the Middle East.
Remembering the Victims and Condoling Families
The militant groups kidnapped more than 251 people, including the American Hersh Goldberg-Polin. When the young man’s body was found in early September, the Pope offered words of condolence to his mother, Rachel.
Speaking of the Pope, Rachel shared, “He worries about all these innocent hostages and all the innocent civilians who are in a very dangerous place right now.”
Pope Francis’ Call for Peace and Day of Prayer
On the eve of the anniversary of this attack, members of the Synod of Bishops and faithful around the world joined Pope Francis in praying the rosary for peace. From the Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major, the pontiff asked the Virgin, patroness of Rome, for the protection of those suffering the consequences of war:
“Turn the hearts of those who fuel hatred, silence the noise of the weapons that cause death, extinguish the violence that resides within man, and inspire peace initiatives in the decisions of those who govern the nations.”
Appeal to the International Community and Advocacy for Peace
The Pope prayed for the “oppressed because of injustices” and highlighted the pain of those who mourn “the death of their own children.” He also called for a day of prayer and fasting on October 7th to pray for an end to conflicts in the world, as he has done for Syria, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Ukraine, and the Holy Land throughout his pontificate.
On this occasion, he sent a letter today to Christians in the Holy Land, inviting them to be witnesses of “a peace without weapons.” In it, the pontiff expressed solidarity with those who have left their homes, schools, and jobs to escape the bombs, and with mothers whose children are injured or have died. The Holy Father assured his closeness to those who have no voice in this conflict, noting that “much is said about plans and strategies, but little is said about the actual situation of those who suffer.”
Furthermore, on Sunday, October 7, after the Angelus prayer, the Pope appealed to the international community to intervene in halting the “spiral of revenge” that fuels the war in the Middle East:
“Let us not forget,” he said, “that there are still many hostages in Gaza, for whom I ask for their immediate release. Since that day, the Middle East has been engulfed in growing suffering, with destructive military actions continuing to affect the Palestinian population.”
The Church continues to advocate on behalf of all those caught in the crossfire, urging the international community to heed Pope Francis’ call for peace and reconciliation, and to work tirelessly toward ending the cycle of violence and restoring hope to the suffering.
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Adapted by Jacob Stein
