At the end of the General Audience today, April 5, 2017, Pope Francis made two appeals. Bergoglio’s thought went to St. Petersburg and to Iblid, in Syria, places struck by attacks in the course of the last hours.
Speaking of the dynamite attack in the metro of the Russian city, which caused several victims and “loss in the population,” the Pope said he entrusted “to God’s mercy all those who tragically died,” and he expressed his “spiritual closeness to their families and to all those suffering due to this tragic event.”
Francis then paused on the chemical attack near Iblid. «I firmly deplore the unacceptable carnage that took place yesterday in Idlib province, where scores of helpless people, including many children, were killed.»
The Holy Father’s prayer is “for the victims and their families,” after which he made an appeal “to the conscience of all those who have political responsibility, at the local and international level, so that this tragedy ceases and relief is taken to that dear population too long exhausted by war. I also encourage the efforts of those who, despite the insecurity and hardship, make efforts to have help reach the inhabitants of that region.”
