VATICAN/ANGELUS - Pope Francis on the ceasefire in Gaza: "I hope that with the help of the international community the right solution will be reached for the two States"

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - "The Lord responds to our shortcomings with His superabundance," said Pope Francis during the Sunday Angelus prayer with the pilgrims and believers gathered in St. Peter's Square. The Pope commented on the Gospel of the day (cf. John 2:1-11), which tells us about Jesus’ first sign, when He turns water into wine during a wedding feast in Cana, in Galilee. It is an account "that foreshadows and encapsulates the whole of Jesus’ mission."

Because "on the day of the coming of the Messiah – so said the prophets – the Lord will prepare “a feast of … choice wines” (Is 25:6) and “the mountains shall drip with the juice of grapes” (Am 9:13)," the Pope continued. Quoting Benedict XVI, he explained: "The sign of God is superabundance." "God is not mean," he then said, adding: "The Lord gives us his love in superabundance. It seems to be a contradiction: the more that is lacking in us, the greater the Lord’s superabundance. Because the Lord wants to celebrate with us, in a feast without end."

After the blessing, Pope Francis thanked for the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, where an agreement for a permanent ceasefire was reached after more than 15 months of war. The ceasefire announced in recent days has begun, albeit with a three-hour delay due to "technical problems" in sending and receiving the list with the names of the first hostages to be released. The Pope thanked "all the mediators" for the results achieved. "It is a good job, to mediate so that peace is made. Thank you to the mediators! And I also thank all the parties involved in this important result," the Pope said.

"I hope that what has been agreed will be respected immediately by the parties, and that all the hostages may finally return home and embrace their loved ones. I pray a lot for them and for their families," continued Pope Francis, "I also hope that humanitarian aid will reach the people of Gaza, who so urgently need it, even faster and in large quantities. Both the Israelis and the Palestinians need clear signs of hope: I trust that the political authorities of both of them, with the help of the international community, may reach the right solution for the two States. May everyone be able to say: yes to dialogue, yes to reconciliation, yes to peace. And let us pray for this: for dialogue, reconciliation and peace." "And let us always pray for the martyred Ukraine, for Palestine, Israel, Myanmar and all the peoples who suffer because of wars," concluded the Pope. (F.B.) (Agenzia Fides, 19/1/2025)

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