Thousands pack St. Peter's Square as Pope speaks on Israel and Ukraine
2:51 PM EDT, November 1, 2023
"Let's not forget about the weary Ukraine, Palestine, Israel," Pope Francis urged during a meeting with the faithful at the Vatican on All Saints' Day. He requested prayers for those impacted by ongoing conflicts.
In his address to the thousands of people gathered for the noon prayer in St. Peter's Square, the Pope stressed, "We must continue praying for the people suffering from our current wars. Let's not forget about the weary Ukraine, not forget about Palestine or Israel, and not overlook the various other regions where war is prevalent".
While speaking about the celebration of All Saints', Francis noted that holiness "is a gift which can't be bought, and yet it is also a journey."
He reinforced, "This gift is what we initially received at baptism."
The Pope explained, "Saints are not unapproachable or distant heroes, but rather people like us—our friends. Everyone begins with the same gift we've received: baptism."
The neighborhood saints
"Surely, with some thought, we've all encountered someone, an everyday saint, a righteous person, someone who lives out a simple Christian life. These are the people I like to call the 'saints of the neighborhood.' Holiness is a gift for everyone and contributes to a joyous life," declared Francis.
He went on to announce that he will be celebrating Mass at a Roman war cemetery on Thursday, a final resting place for soldiers from the British Commonwealth who fell during World War II.
