VATICAN CITY - During his 55th general audience in the Piazza San Pietro Wednesday, Pope Francis asked the faithful to join him in a prayer for those affected by war in Ukraine, Sudan, Lebanon and Myanmar.  

  The pontiff said that he has been “distressed by the news from Lebanon where in the last few days intense bombing has brought death and destruction.” Francis called on the international community to respond. He asked for “the international community to make every effort to stop this terrible escalation,” and made reference to the economic and political crisis which Lebanon has experienced after a dramatic explosion in Beirut’s port in 2020. 

This follows the pope's call for peace from all wars. In his audience he asked that “we pray for all those, all those people who suffer from war: the tormented Ukraine, Myanmar, Palestine, Israel, Sudan, all those tormented people. We pray for peace.” 

Pope Francis is set to leave for Luxembourg and Belgium on Thursday. He will use this tour as an opportunity for a new outburst of faith in these countries. 

 tjpw