Concerns about the Middle East and Ukraine ahead of his trip to Asia

The apostolic journey to Asia, which will take the Pope to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Singapore, is recalled. This morning there will be prayer and entrustment before the icon of Our Lady Salus populi romani, in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome. The World Day of Prayer for Creation is remembered: “The cry of the Earth is ever more alarming.”

Vatican City () – “Tomorrow I will begin an apostolic journey to some Asian countries. Pray for the fruits of this journey,” said Pope Francis, after reciting the Angelus this morning, the first Sunday of September, of the apostolic journey that will see him visit Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Singapore from tomorrow until the 13th. This morning, before appearing at the window of the Vatican Apostolic Palace, as is customary before apostolic journeys, the Pontiff went to the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome, stopping in prayer before the icon of Our Lady Salus populi romani, entrusting her with what will be the longest journey of his pontificate.

The Holy Father also spoke of peace in the Middle East and Ukraine after the Marian prayer. “Once again I turn my thoughts with concern to the conflict in Palestine and Israel, which risks spreading to other Palestinian cities. I appeal for negotiations not to be halted. For an immediate ceasefire. For the hostages to be released,” he said. He also recalled the urgent need to help the population of Gaza, which is suffering from the spread of numerous diseases, including polio. “May there be peace in the Holy Land, may there be peace in Jerusalem. May the Holy City be a place of encounter, where Christians, Jews and Muslims feel respected and welcomed. And may no one question the status quo in the respective holy places,” were the firm words pronounced by Francis.

He also expressed his closeness to the “tormented Ukrainian people, severely hit by the attacks on their energy infrastructure.” In addition to the dead and wounded as a result of these actions, “more than a million people have been left without electricity and water,” recalled the Bishop of Rome. “Let us remember that the voice of the innocent always finds an echo in God, who is not indifferent to their suffering.”

Pope Francis asked the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square to applaud for Ján Havlík, beatified yesterday in Šaštin, Slovakia, a seminarian of the Congregation of the Mission founded by St. Vincent de Paul. “This young man was killed in 1965 during the persecution of the Church by the regime in what was then Czechoslovakia,” explained the Holy Father. “May his perseverance in witnessing to the faith in Christ be an encouragement to those who still today suffer similar trials.”

He recalled “with pain” the massacre that took place on Saturday 24 August in the town of Barsalogho, in Burkina Faso. “Hundreds of people, including women and children, were killed and many others were injured in a terrorist attack,” explained Bergoglio. “In condemning these atrocious attacks against human life, I express my closeness to the entire nation. My deepest condolences to the families of the victims. May the Virgin Mary help the beloved people of Burkina Faso to find peace and security,” were the words of Pope Francis. Regarding the incident that occurred yesterday at the shrine of Nossa Senhora da Conceição in the city of Recife, in Brazil, while baskets of basic foodstuffs were being distributed among the most vulnerable population, which left two dead and 22 injured, the Pontiff said he prayed for the victims: “May the Risen Lord comfort the wounded and their families.”

He also recalled the World Day of Prayer for Creation, celebrated every year on 1 September, an event rooted in the deep tradition of the Eastern Church, for which this day commemorates the creation of the world. It offers an opportunity both to celebrate the divine act of creation and to reflect on how we have appreciated the precious gift of creation. “I wish everyone – institutions, associations, families and every individual – a concrete commitment to our common home. The cry of the wounded earth is ever more alarming and demands decisive and urgent action.”

Commenting on today’s Gospel (Mk 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23) before the recitation of the Marian prayer, Pope Francis noted that Jesus addresses the theme of purity, criticising the outward ritualism of the Pharisees. “Purity does not depend on external rituals, but on inner dispositions,” he said, recalling the words of Jesus. “It is not enough to wash one’s hands if one’s heart is nourished by perverse feelings such as greed and pride.” The Pope warned of the danger of leading a “double life,” showing piety in the Church but behaving differently outside it. “We are made for purity of life, for tenderness, for love,” he added.