Daniele Frison

At his Wednesday audience, Francis repeated that "War is always a defeat." Through the intercession of John Paul II 10 years after his canonisation, the pontiff called for "the gift of peace" in Ukraine and Myanmar too. In the catechesis on the life of grace according to the Spirit, he stressed that the theological virtues of faith, hope and charity are an "antidote to self-sufficiency".

According to an investigation by 38 North, which monitored a North Korean cloud server in January 2024, North Korean workers appear to have worked on animation projects by Amazon and HBO Max studios after the latter subcontracted some of the work to Chinese firms, which did the same with North Korean firms.

The hope is that "the ways of dialogue, of diplomacy" will prevail; the latter according to the Pontiff "can do so much". After the recitation of the Regina Caeli, the prayer for the peoples of Palestine and Israel: "May they soon stop suffering". On the 61st Day of Prayer for Vocations: "Church polyphony of charisms and vocations at the service of the Gospel".

In St Peter's Square, Pope Francis remembers Palestine, Israel and Ukraine, as well as all the "prisoners of war." Today's catechesis focused on temperance, “the virtue of the right measure”. A sensitive person “does not weep over himself. In defeat, he rises up again; in victory, he is capable of returning to his former reserved life.”

After Iran attacks Israel, Francis issues an appeal in St Peter's Square to avoid "an even greater military conflict”. Instead, nations should stand for peace and pursue the paths of negotiation. Calling for a two-state solution, he insists that this is a “deep and legitimate desire" for Israelis and Palestinians. On Gaza, “Let us help that population, plunged into a humanitarian catastrophe”.

The auxiliary bishop of Jerusalem and patriarchal vicar for Palestine looks at the protests in Amman. Diplomatic relations with Israel allow aid to be sent to Gaza. Some students from Gaza’s Holy Family Parish arrived in Amman thanks to the Patriarchate’s support. Pope Francis “is the only balanced voice.”

A call for peace from St Peter's Square, and reminder of teh ongoing Asian conflict, along with Palestine, Israel and the 'tormented Ukraine'. During his catechesis on the virtue of fortitude, Francis said that it leads one to say no to the 'wickedness' of the world, such as wars and violence. "A Christian without courage is a useless Christian," he added.

"Favour gestures that make negotiations possible". After the recitation of the Regina Caeli, Francis addresses the leaders asking them to 'decrease tension'. The thought is for the war in the Middle East, Palestine and Israel, while there are fears of action from Tehran. But also for the "tormented Ukraine". Renewed is the appeal not to give up the "prayer for peace".

At the general audience in St Peter's Square, Francis spoke about the seven aid workers from World Center Kitchen NGO killed by an Israeli drone in the Gaza Strip. In his address, the pontiff renewed his call for humanitarian aid to the Gazan population. He also showed a rosary and a New Testament that belonged to a Ukrainian soldier who died in the "folly of war". His weekly catechesis to the faithful centred on the virtue of justice.

The tragedy of war in the land of Jesus (and "martyred Ukraine") are the focus of the Holy Week general audience. Bassam Aramin and Rami Elhanan, Israeli and Palestinian fathers who lost their daughters in the war, are among those present. “They don't look at the wickedness of the war," the pontiff said about them. In a letter, he also expresses his closeness to the Catholics of the Holy Land, grateful to them for their “ability to hope against all hope”.

A group of 17 Christians took part in the gesture promoted by the diocesan office for human development. In Chow Kit they lived together with street people, sleeping next to them on cardboard boxes. "We experienced their love for their neighbour," one of the participants tells Herald Malaysia. The contact with poverty in one of the largest eononomies in South East Asia.

Francis spoke in a strained voice at the end of the Palm Sunday celebration, after skipping the reading of the homily. The one in Moscow is a 'cowardly terrorist attack', praying for the victims . On Ukraine: 'Risk of a humanitarian catastrophe'.