I pray for flood-ravaged Vietnam and Myanmar, an end to violence in Gaza

At the Angelus, the Pope’s closeness to those affected by Typhoon Yagi and to the families of the Israeli hostages found dead in Gaza a few days ago. The memory of the meeting with the mother of one of them. “May the negotiations continue and peaceful solutions be found.” To everyone, the invitation to ask again: “Who is Jesus for you?”

Vatican City () – The peoples of Asia are suffering mourning and devastation from Typhoon Yagi. But the “crying of mothers” for their children killed by war and violence. Starting with the Israeli hostages found earlier this month in a tunnel in Gaza, eleven months after their kidnapping by Hamas militants.

Francis’ gaze once again embraced the wounds of the entire world from the window of St. Peter’s Square, during the customary Sunday appointment with the Angelus prayer. Fresh from his apostolic journey that took him to Asia and Oceania for almost two weeks, the Pontiff – at the end of the Marian prayer – wanted to draw attention to the suffering that thousands of people are experiencing these days in the East due to the natural cataclysm that has hit several countries causing hundreds of deaths.

“I express my closeness to the people of Vietnam and Myanmar who are suffering from the floods caused by a violent typhoon,” said Francis. “I pray for the dead, the injured, the displaced. May God support those who have lost their loved ones and their homes. And may he bless those who bring aid.”

But the Pope – as he does every week – also invited us not to forget the wars that continue to stain the world with blood: Ukraine, Myanmar, the Middle East. “How many innocent victims,” ​​he said, “I think of the mothers who have lost their children in wars, how many young lives have been cut short.” Francis specifically cited one of them: that of Hersh Goldman-Polin, a young Israeli-American kidnapped on October 7 by Palestinian militants along with dozens of other people and found dead at the beginning of September along with five other hostages in Gaza. “In November of last year,” he recalled, “I met his mother, Rachel, who impressed me with her humanity. I am with her at this time. I pray for the victims,” ​​he added, “and I remain close to all the families of the hostages.” May the conflict in Palestine and Israel cease. May the violence cease, may the hatred cease, may the hostages be freed, may the negotiations continue and may peaceful solutions be found.”

Before the Angelus, commenting on the Gospel passage proposed by today’s liturgy, Francis had invited us to ask ourselves again the question: “Who is Jesus for you?” “Perhaps we respond well,” he commented, “with some formula that we learned in catechism. But are we sure that this means really knowing Jesus? In reality, to know the Lord it is not enough to know something about Him, but it is necessary to follow Him, to let ourselves be touched and changed by His Gospel.”

“Unfortunately,” he continued, “many no longer ask themselves this question and remain ‘silent’, asleep, even far from God. Instead, it is important to ask oneself: do I allow myself to be touched, do I ask myself who Jesus is for me and what place he occupies in my life?”