“I hope that the truce underway in Gaza might continue, so that all the hostages might be freed, and the necessary humanitarian aid might be able to enter.”

Those were Pope Francis’ words at the end of his weekly General Audience on Wednesday, November 29.

“May we please continue to pray for the serious situation in Israel and Palestine,” the Pope said. “Peace, please peace.”

After calling for the ceasefire to be extended, he noted that he had recently spoken by phone with Gaza’s Catholic parish.

“They don’t have water, they don't have bread, ordinary people are suffering, and the people are suffering. It’s not those who are fighting who are suffering.”

“Let us now,” Pope Francis added, “ask for peace and let us not forget, while asking for peace, the dear Ukrainian people, who are suffering a lot and still fighting a war.”

“War is always a defeat,” he concluded. “Everyone loses. Well, not everyone - there is a group that earns a lot. Those who make weapons. They earn a lot from the death of others.”