Pope Francis’ Final Call: A Ceasefire for Gaza
On the eve of his death, the pontiff made one last urgent call for peace and justice in Gaza—a message that now echoes louder in mourning
Vatican, PUREWILAYAH.COM - Just one day before his passing, Pope Francis delivered what would become his final public message: a heartfelt and urgent appeal for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
Speaking through an aide during the traditional Easter message from the Vatican, the Pope described the situation in Gaza as “dramatic and deplorable,” calling on all parties involved to lay down their arms, release captives, and assist a starving civilian population yearning for peace.
“I appeal to the warring parties: call a ceasefire, release the hostages, and come to the aid of a starving people that aspires to a future of peace,” the Pope’s statement read. His words were simple, but their weight now feels eternal.
Compassion for the People of Gaza
The Pope's compassion for the people of Gaza was not new. For years, and especially during the current war, he repeatedly raised his voice for the Palestinian people—Christian and Muslim alike.
In one of his final written remarks from November 2024, he acknowledged the devastating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and even alluded to expert concerns that the events unfolding bore the hallmarks of genocide.
“I am thinking above all of those who leave Gaza in the midst of the famine… According to some experts, what is happening in Gaza has the characteristics of a genocide,” he wrote. “It should be carefully investigated.”
Pope Francis was among the rare global figures who dared to use such grave language, signaling his deep moral concern and insistence on global accountability.
A Symbol of Solidarity with Palestinians
Theologian Munther Isaac, a Palestinian Christian, described how Pope Francis continually reached out to the besieged Christian community in Gaza, even from his hospital bed. For Palestinian Christians, the Pope was more than a spiritual leader, he was a trusted friend.
“His pastoral heart was evident in his insistence on calling the Christian community besieged in Gaza on a constant basis,” Isaac wrote.
He also recalled the Pope’s historic visit to Bethlehem years ago, where he famously paused to pray at the Separation Wall. That silent moment—his hand resting on the concrete barrier—became a lasting symbol of resistance and empathy. “He touched more than the wall. He touched the ugliness of the occupation and war. He touched the depth of our suffering,” Isaac wrote.
A Call That Must Not Be Forgotten
Isaac underscores the urgent moral challenge that Pope Francis left behind: to turn compassion into action and to confront the ongoing suffering in Gaza.
He went on to question whether the millions who will mourn the pontiff in the coming days will honor his plea by caring for Gazans as Francis himself did.
“May his soul rest in glory with his Savior. Humanity lost a special soul today.” (PW)
Source: Al-Mayadeen/Muntheer Isaac on X