Saint Joseph Catholic Church

Stating that “the threat of destroying a whole civilization and the intentional targeting of civilian infrastructure cannot be morally justified,” the president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops today called upon President Donald Trump to “step back from the precipice of war and negotiate a just settlement for the sake of peace and before more lives are lost.”

“Today, as we all know, there has also been this threat against the entire people of Iran,” Pope Leo said, referring to comments made by President Donald Trump. “And this is truly unacceptable! There are certainly issues of international law here, but even more, it is a moral question concerning the good of the people as a whole, in its entirety.”

“We have a worldwide economic crisis, an energy crisis, and a situation in the Middle East of great instability, which is only provoking more hatred throughout the world,” the Pope continued. “Come back to the table. Let’s talk. Let’s look for solutions in a peaceful way.”

The Pope added:

Let’s remember, especially, the innocent: children, the elderly, the sick, so many people who have already become, or will become, victims of this continued warfare—and to remind all that attacks on civilian infrastructure are against international law, and that they are also a sign of the hatred, division, and destruction that the human being is capable of.

“We all want to work for peace. People want peace,” Pope Leo concluded. “I would invite the citizens of all the countries involved to contact the authorities—political leaders, congressmen—to ask them, to tell them, to work for peace and to reject war and violence.”

The Zambia Monitor reported on the accusation that led to the mob violence, as did the Zambian Observer.

The principal author of the research was Gianni Barcaccia, professor of Genetics and Genomics at the University of Padua. She and her coauthors wrote:

Over 55.6% of the human DNA corresponds to lineages from the Near East, while Western European lineages account for less than 5.6%. The presence of 38.7% of the overall human genomic data from Indian lineages is unexpected and is potentially linked to historical interactions associated with importing linen or yarn from regions near the Indus Valley.

The apostolic nuncio, joined by UN peacekeepers and Catholic organizations, organized the convoy to assist the residents of Debel amid the Lebanon war.

“The cancellation of a humanitarian convoy—even for security reasons—constitutes a violation of international humanitarian law” and represents “an affront to the defenseless inhabitants of southern Lebanon, trapped in the crossfire of the war between Hezbollah and Israel,” the Patriarch said in his statement. (L’Osservatore Romano did not state whether Israeli forces or others had cancelled the aid.)

Dozens of Christians were killed in Easter attacks across Nigeria.

He concluded:

One day, I asked a woman, married to a Catholic for over twenty years and now seeking full communion, what had taken her so long. Her answer: “Nobody ever asked me!” This, too, is well worth pondering.

“Let us make heard the cry for peace that springs from our hearts,” he said while delivering his Easter message urbi et orbi (to the city and the world). “For this reason, I invite everyone to join me in a prayer vigil for peace that we will celebrate here in Saint Peter’s Basilica next Saturday, April 11.”

The motto of the apostolic journey is “Lift up your eyes” (Jn. 4:35); the logo is displayed here.

The Risen Christ is “the only hope that can still open, here and now, the gates of peace,” said Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, O.F.M. “He is not merely to be contemplated; he is to be followed. He is not to be held back; we must allow him to lead the way.”

Cardinal Pizzaballa added:

The stone has been rolled away. The passage is open. But we must decide whether to stay inside or go out.

In practical terms, stepping out means choosing forgiveness when it would be easier to harden our hearts; choosing truth when it would be more comfortable to conform; choosing hope when everything suggests the opposite; choosing to do good, just as Jesus “went about doing good,” even if it goes unnoticed, even if it brings no recognition.