Pope Francis renews calls for Israel-Hamas “ceasefire on every front” in annual address to diplomats

Pope Francis, speaking about conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine in his yearly speech to diplomats on Monday, said that "indiscriminately striking" civilians is a war crime because it violates international humanitarian law.

Francis made his comments in a 45-minute-long address to diplomats accredited to the Vatican, which is sometimes called his "state of the world" speech.

Expressing concern that the conflict between Israel and Gaza could widen in the region, he called for a "ceasefire on every front, including Lebanon." He condemned the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas as an "atrocious" act of "terrorism and extremism," and renewed his call for the immediate liberation of those still being held hostage in Gaza.

Francis, 87, also said the recent rise of antisemitism following the start of the Gaza war was a "scourge" that must be eliminated from society.

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