Pope Francis expressed his joy over the ceasefire in Lebanon today after reciting the Angelus prayer with the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican. He hoped that all parties would respect the ceasefire, allowing both the Israeli and Lebanese people to return to their homes safely and soon, with the valued assistance of the Lebanese army and United Nations peacekeeping forces.

In this context, the Pope made an urgent appeal to Lebanese politicians to expedite the election of a president and restore the normal functioning of institutions, to implement necessary reforms, and to ensure the continued peaceful coexistence of different religions in the country. He also hoped that the ceasefire would extend to Gaza and other fronts. He mentioned that he holds the issue of freeing Israeli hostages close to his heart and emphasized the importance of humanitarian aid reaching the exhausted Palestinian people. He then called for prayers for Syria, where war has erupted again, noting that he is very close to the church in Syria.

Pope Francis expressed his deep concern and pain over these ongoing conflicts. He said, "War is terrifying! War offends God and humanity. War spares no one and is always a defeat for all humanity... The pursuit of peace is a responsibility that rests not only on a few but on everyone.