After the celebration of the Eucharist in Saint Mark’s Square, Venice, the Pope recited the “Queen of Heaven” prayer together with the faithful present, during which he prayed for peace in the world.
Jānis Evertovskis – Vatican
At the end of his pastoral visit to Venice, the Bishop of Rome greeted all those present and warmly thanked Patriarch Francesco Moralia, the secular authorities, those who helped prepare this visit, and the volunteers and security forces who facilitated its progress. “Just like every Sunday, from here too, we want to ask for the intercession of the Virgin Mary for the many situations of suffering in the world,” continued the Pope.
He said he was thinking of Haiti, where there is currently a state of emergency and the people are desperate because of the collapse of the health care system, food shortages and violence. The Holy Father called to entrust the works and decisions of the new transitional presidential council to the Lord, so that peace and stability could be achieved in the country with the renewed support of the international community. According to UN data, 1,660 people have been killed in Haiti in the first semester of this year, including 40 children. On the other hand, 438 people were kidnapped. 80% of the country’s capital, Port-au-Prince, is in the hands of armed gangs.
The Pope assured that he was also thinking about the tortured Ukraine, Palestine and Israel, about the Rohingya and many other peoples suffering from war and violence. “May the God of peace enlighten the hearts, so that the will to dialogue and reconciliation will increase in all”, he said.
