In an interview with CBS, Pope Francis calls for an end to the wars in Ukraine, Gaza and around the world. He then reminds that in the church there is a place for everyone: if a parish priest does not seem welcoming – he said – look elsewhere, there is always a place, do not run away from the church, it is big.
Vatican News translation and editing Katarina Agorelius
“A negotiated peace is better than a war without end”. This is what Pope Francis says, considering Ukraine, Gaza and the wars that are shaking the world, in an interview with CBS, the largest television company in the United States, on Wednesday afternoon, April 24, at Casa Santa Marta. Excerpts from the interview, which lasted about an hour and were conducted by “CBS Evening News” anchor Norah O’Donnell, aired after midnight CET. An extended version of the conversation will be broadcast on Sunday, May 19, ahead of the celebration of World Children’s Day in Rome on May 25-26.
The Pope calls on all warring countries to end the conflicts: “Try to negotiate. Strive for peace”. When asked by the journalist about the term genocide in relation to what is happening in Gaza, the Pope repeats the word and emphasizes the daily contact he has with the suffering. “I pray a lot” for the cease-fire in Gaza, says the Pope and reminds that every evening at 19.00 calls the only Catholic parish in the Gaza Strip to get news. The situation “is very difficult”, he emphasizes, also because the people have to fight to get food.
When asked what consequences the Russian invasion of Ukraine has on the children, Pope Francis answers: “These children do not know how to smile. I tell them something, but they have forgotten how to smile. And when a child forgets how to smile is very serious.”
The Pope also talks about climate change, which he stresses is “really ongoing”, and regarding World Children’s Day he says that the little ones “always carry a message” – they enable us to “carry a younger heart”. When asked about the Pope’s health, he answers with a smile: “He is fine”.
Then the Pope emphasizes that there is room for everyone in the Church: “I would like to say that there is always room. If the priest in a parish does not seem welcoming … look for another – there is always a place, always. Do not run away from the church. The church is very big. It is more than a temple … don’t leave her.”
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