Pope Francis calls for an end to 'heavy bombing in Gaza'

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Pope Francis appeared at the window of Rome’s Gemelli hospital on Sunday, his first public appearance after five weeks of hospitalisation. He greeted and blessed the over 3000 well-wishers present in the hospital courtyard, many of them carrying bright flowers and "welcome home" posters, while his Sunday reflectionwas read by tv/radio commentators and distributed to journalists. In it, he appeals for the silencing of weapons.

In his prepared greeting, the Pope reflected on the day’s Gospel and used it to highlight the immense suffering of the people in Gaza, as well as all those who, across the world, suffer the consequences of war.

Throughout his hospitalization, the Pope has never tired of making his voice for peace heard in prepared texts published prior to the Angelus prayer in St Peter’s Square.

This Sunday, just before his programmed return to Casa Santa Marta to begin two months of convalescence, Pope Francis prayed for the people of Palestine, writing, “I am saddened by the resumption of heavy Israeli bombing on the Gaza Strip, causing many deaths and injuries. I call for an immediate halt to the weapons; and for the courage to resume dialogue, so that all hostages may be released and a final ceasefire reached”.

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