After a Pentecost homily on learning to listen to the Holy Spirit, Pope Francis led the midday Regina Caeli, saying that on this feast, God’s dream for humanity becomes reality because people “encounter and understand one another.”
The Holy Father spoke of “God’s dream” after the prayer, when he urged us to continue to pray for peace.
On Pentecost, God’s dream for humanity becomes reality; 50 days after Easter, peoples who speak different languages encounter and understand one another. But now, 100 days after the beginning of the armed aggression against Ukraine, the nightmare of war, which is the negation of God’s dream, has once again befallen humanity: peoples in conflict with one another, peoples who kill each other, people being driven from their homes instead of being brought closer.
The Pope made an appeal both to leaders of nations and to the faithful:
And while the fury of destruction and death rampages and the conflicts rage on, fuelling an escalation that is increasingly dangerous for all, I renew my appeal to the leaders of Nations: do not lead humanity into ruin, please! Do not lead humanity into ruin, please! Let true negotiations take place, real talks for a ceasefire and for a sustainable solution. Let the desperate cry of the suffering people be heard – we see this every day in the media – have respect for human life and stop the macabre destruction of cities and villages in the east of Ukraine. Let us continue, please, to pray and to strive tirelessly for peace.
Later the Holy Father spoke about Yemen, the site of one of the world’s worst conflicts, even though it’s overshadowed by Ukraine.
I have learned with satisfaction that the truce in Yemen has been renewed for another two months. Thanks to God, and to you. I hope that this sign of hope may be a further step to put an end to that bloody conflict, which has caused one of the worst humanitarian crises of our times. Please, do not forget to spare a thought for the children of Yemen: hunger, destruction, lack of education, lack of everything. Let us think of the children!
As well, the Holy Father assured his closeness to all who are indirectly affected by the world’s conflicts:
I express my closeness to fishermen: let us think of fishermen who, due to the increase in the cost of petrol, risk having to stop working, and I extend this to all the categories of worker gravely afflicted by the consequences of the conflict in Ukraine.
And today we celebrate...