Pope Francis used his final public address to warn politicians against “stirring up” anti-migrant sentiment, hours after meeting US Vice President JD Vance.
The Pope, who died today at the age of 88, was able to greet crowds at the Vatican in his popemobile yesterday, before delivering his Easter Sunday blessing in what turned out to be his last public appearance.
An aide read out his annual Urbi et Orbi blessing and speech, with the Pope saying only: “Brothers and sisters, Happy Easter!”
The speech had an international focus, addressing many of the world’s great conflicts, as well as humanitarian crises which receive less attention.
Pope Francis on the main balcony of St Peter’s basilica during the Urbi et Orbi message and blessing to the city and the world as part of Easter celebrations, at St Peter’s square in the Vatican on Sunday (Photo: Tiziana Fabi/AFP)
The speech nodded to a rise in anti-migrant sentiment – warning that “contempt” was being “stirred up” towards migrants, “the vulnerable and the marginalised” – as Donald Trump continues his mass deportations in the US.
He said: “How much contempt is stirred up at times towards the vulnerable, the marginalised, and migrants.
“I appeal to all those in positions of political responsibility in our world not to yield to the logic of fear which only leads to isolation from others, but rather to use the resources available to help the needy, to fight hunger and to encourage initiatives that promote development.”
The Pope met with Vance on Saturday, with the Vatican noting in a statement: “There was an exchange of opinions on the international situation, especially regarding countries affected by war, political tensions and difficult humanitarian situations, with particular attention to migrants, refugees, and prisoners.”
Closer to home, The Pope mentioned victims of domestic abuse – commenting on “how much violence we see, often even within families, directed at women and children”.
Middle East central to Pope’s final speech
Pope Francis’s speech called for a ceasefire in Gaza, a surge in humanitarian aid entering the area – which has been blocked – and a release of the Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
“I express my closeness to the sufferings of Christians in Palestine and Israel, and to all the Israeli people and the Palestinian people,” he said.
“The growing climate of anti-Semitism throughout the world is worrisome. Yet at the same time, I think of the people of Gaza, and its Christian community in particular, where the terrible conflict continues to cause death and destruction and to create a dramatic and deplorable humanitarian situation.”
“I appeal to the warring parties: call a ceasefire, release the hostages and come to the aid of a starving people that aspires to a future of peace.”
Destroyed buildings in Nuseirat Refugee Camp in Deir al-Balah, Gaza (Photo: Moiz Salhi/Anadolu via Getty Images)The Pope asked that Christians pray for people in Lebanon and Syria, where there was a “delicate transition” ongoing, and for the people of Yemen, “experiencing one of the world’s most serious and prolonged humanitarian crises because of war”.
He asked all parties involved in the Yemeni conflict to “find solutions through a constructive dialogue.”
The US has launched a wave of bombings on the Houthi rebel group in Yemen, after a series of attacks on vessels transiting through the Red Sea.
As Iran and the US engage in talks over Tehran’s nuclear programme, the Pope also called for “true disarmament”, saying that the “requirement that every people provide for its own defence must not turn into a race to rearmament.”
Pope Francis’s speech also called for a “lasting piece” war in Ukraine, as Russia was accused of breaking an Easter truce with hundreds of attacks.
“May the risen Christ grant Ukraine, devastated by war, his Easter gift of peace, and encourage all parties involved to pursue efforts aimed at achieving a just and lasting peace,” he said.
It comes as peace talks appear to be stalling, with no resolution to the war in sight.
A priest conducts a service near the Church of Saint Michael and Saint Fedor during Easter celebrations in Chernihiv, Ukraine (Photo: Maksym Kishka/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)The US has brokered negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in recent months but the talks have failed to bear fruit – except for a ceasefire in the Black Sea which is considered largely inconsequential to the course of the war.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the US would walk away from negotiations if there were no clear signs of progress soon.
However, Russia is widely considered to be stalling talks, with little incentive to bring the conflict to a close.
Sudan, Myanmar and South Caucus highlighted
The Pope also used his final address to highlight conflicts and regions which have received less attention.
Pope Francis highlighted “violence and conflict” in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan and Sudan, and prayed for the alleviation of suffering in the Sahel, the Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes region.
Sudan last week marked two years of bloody war, which has created the world’s largest displacement crisis and left one in two hungry.
There is an acute hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa after protracted drought and international aid cuts.
The Pope also prayed that a peace agreement would be signed and implemented between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and for those affected by the Myanmar earthquake.
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