Pope Francis on Wednesday, April 17, 2024  highlighted the plight of prisoners of war in conflict-stricken countries.

“Our thoughts, at this moment, [the thoughts] of all of us, go to the peoples at war,” he said, speaking off-cuff at the end of the General Audience.

“We think of the Holy Land, of Palestine, of Israel. We think of Ukraine, tormented Ukraine. We think of the prisoners of war...”

And raising an appeal for their liberation, the Pope said: May the Lord move wills so they may all be freed.”

“May the Lord move wills so they may all be freed.”

Adding to his appeal Pope Francis had special thoughts for those prisoners who are subjected to torture.

“The torture of prisoners is a horrible thing, it is not human,” he decried, “We think of so many kinds of torture that wound the dignity of the person, and of so many tortured people... May the Lord help everyone and bless everyone.”

“We think of so many kinds of torture that wound the dignity of the person.”