An appeal for peace in the Holy Land and Iraq: it was made yesterday by the Pope, after the Angelus. "In the last few days, violence and horror have stained the Holy Land again, fuelling a spiral of destruction and death that seems to be never ending", said the Pontiff, who asked for "the gift of peace for that region", mentioning "the many innocent victims" and expressing "his solidarity with the families and casualties". In addition, Benedict XVI spurred the Israeli and Palestinian authorities "in their intention to build, through negotiations, a peaceful and fair future for their peoples". "I ask everyone, in the name of God this was the core of the appeal , to leave the meandering ways of hatred and revenge and to responsibility walk the paths of dialogue and trust". The same "wish" for Iraq too, "while we are still worried about recalled the Holy Father the fate of mgr. Rahho and many Iraqis, who keep suffering blind and absurd violence, which is certainly against God’s will". Then he made an invitation to the young to meet next Thursday, when the Pope will officiate a Penitential Liturgy for the young of the diocese of Rome in the basilica of Saint Peter’s (at 5.30 pm), "an important occasion of preparation" for the XXIII World Youth Day which will have its highlight in July "with the great meeting in Sydney".
