Pope Francis urged on Sunday for an "immediate" end to Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip and for the continuation of ceasefire negotiations.
"I am saddened by the resumption of the intense Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip, with so many deaths and injuries," the 88-year-old pontiff wrote in his Angelus prayer, which was published today amid his first public appearance before he was discharged from the hospital, where he was recovering from a severe respiratory infection.
The pope also asked that "the weapons be silenced immediately and that the courage be found to resume dialogue so that all the hostages can be freed and a definitive ceasefire reached," adding that the humanitarian situation in Gaza is "once again very serious."
