During his weekly audience at the Vatican, Pope Francis addressed the suffering of both Palestinian captives in Israel and Israeli hostages in Gaza. He called on the crowd at St. Peter’s Square to pray for peace between the two conflicting nations. The eighty-six-year-old pontiff revealed that he had met with two delegations – one consisting of Israelis with relatives held captive in Gaza and the other comprising Palestinians with family members imprisoned in Israel. Pope Francis empathized with their suffering and highlighted the impact of conflict on individuals.

He emphasized the devastating effects of war and terrorism, without explicitly pinpointing any specific event such as the recent attack on Israel by the Palestinian militant group Hamas or Israel’s subsequent military response in Gaza. The Pope’s message resonated across all faiths and communities as he stressed the sacredness and preciousness of every human life, advocating for the universal right to live in peace.

After enduring several weeks of intense conflict, Israel and Hamas reached an agreement to release numerous Palestinian detainees and over 50 hostages. Additionally, the agreement includes a four-day ceasefire, offering a temporary relief to the distressed population of Gaza.