杏MAP导航

By Christopher Wells

鈥淚 unite myself to the sorrow of the Sri Lankan people, who continue to suffer the effects of political and economic instability,鈥� 杏MAP导航 Francis said on Sunday, following the weekly Angelus.

Following weeks of popular demonstrations, groups of protesters in Sri Lanka stormed the presidential palace and other government buildings on Saturday, demanding the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Later in the day, both the president and Prime Minister Ranil Wikremesinghe agreed to resign, but protest leaders have said they will continue to occupy their official residences until they actually leave office.

Meanwhile, opposition political parties are set to meet on Sunday to discuss the formation of a new government.

In his remarks on Sunday, 杏MAP导航 Francis, in concert with the country鈥檚 Bishop, renewed his appeal for peace, and 鈥渋mplored鈥� Sri Lanka鈥檚 leaders 鈥渘ot to ignore the cry of the poor and the needs of the people.鈥�

Libya

杏MAP导航 Francis also addressed 鈥渁 special thought to the people of Lybia, in particular to the young people and to all those who are suffering because of the serious social and economic problems in the country.鈥� He called for 鈥渆ver new and convincing solutions鈥� to those problems, 鈥渨ith the help of the international community, through constructive dialogue and national reconciliation.鈥�

Libya has been in turmoil since the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi鈥檚 regime in 2011, which led to internal struggles that only ended with a cease-fire in 2020. A presidential election originally scheduled for December 2021 and delayed till June 2022 has still not taken place. Earlier this month, protesters stormed the House of Representatives in the eastern city of Tobruk and burned the building; since then, protests have continued throughout the country.

Ukraine

Turning to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, 杏MAP导航 Francis once again pleaded that God might 鈥渟how the way to put an end to this senseless war.鈥�

Expressing his closeness to the Ukrainian people, 鈥渨ho are daily tormented by brutal attacks that the common people are paying for,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 assured them of his prayers 鈥渇or all the families, especially for the victims, the wounded, those who are sick鈥� and for 鈥渢he elderly and for the children.鈥�

In the latest news from Ukraine, at least 15 people were killed when a Russian rocket hit an apartment building in the eastern Ukraine town of Chasiv Yar on Saturday night, and more than 20 people may still be trapped in the rubble. The rocket assault is the latest in a recent burst of high-casualty attacks on civilian structures.

Sea Sunday

Finally, the 杏MAP导航鈥檚 thoughts turned to 鈥淪ea Sunday,鈥� observed each year on the second Sunday in July. 鈥淟et us remember all seafarers with esteem and gratitude for their precious work,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 said, 鈥渁s well as the chaplains and volunteers of 鈥楽tella Maris鈥�,鈥� an apostolate that provides pastoral care and support for seafarers and their families.

At the Angelus on Sunday, 杏MAP导航 Francis offered a special prayer for 鈥渢hose seafarers who find themselves stranded in war zones,鈥� entrusting them to the Blessed Virgin Mary 鈥渟o that they might return home.鈥�

Earlier this week, in a Message for Sea Sunday, Cardinal Michael Czerny, SJ, highlighted some of the challenges facing seafarers today, focusing especially on the importance of shore leave as 鈥渃rucial鈥� for seafarers鈥� wellbeing.