Pope Francis made an impassioned plea for peace in the Middle East, specifically calling for an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon, Gaza, and Israel.
The pontiff’s appeal came during an open-air mass at King Baudouin stadium in Brussels, which was attended by King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, during his visit to Belgium.
The mass attracted around 40,000 faithful and emphasized the need for transparency in addressing abuse scandals within the Church, as well as a call for peace amid escalating regional tensions.
Addressing the ongoing violence in the Middle East, where Israel has been targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon, Pope Francis stated, “I call on all parties to immediately cease fire in Lebanon, Gaza, the rest of Palestine, and Israel.”
His remarks underscored the humanitarian toll of the conflict, particularly on civilians.
On his flight back to Rome, the pope strongly criticized the “immoral” use of force, stressing the need for proportionality in defense.
He said, “Defence must always be proportional to the attack. When this is not the case, a dominating tendency appears that goes beyond morality… Even in war, there is a morality to defend.”
He condemned the devastation caused by Israel’s strikes, reiterating that even in conflict, ethical principles must be upheld.
This trip to Belgium, the first papal visit since **John Paul II** in 1995, also highlighted growing tensions between the **Vatican** and more secular countries over progressive issues, including **gender inequality**, reflecting wider global challenges for the Church in maintaining its relevance in an evolving world.
On Saturday, he was challenged during a frank exchange with students about the place of women in the Church — after paying tribute to a former sovereign who took a public stance against abortion.
His response, describing women as daughters, sisters and mothers upset some, with the Catholic university hosting the meeting later expressing its “incomprehension and disapproval” at the reductive view.
“I don’t understand why women can’t become priests. It’s something that was established because it was rooted in society at the time, but now we’ve moved on,” Alice Vanwijnsberghe, an 18-year-old student, told AFP after attending a festival with 6,000 young Catholics.
During his traditional press conference on board the plane flying him back to Rome, the pontiff saluted former Belgian monarch King Baudouin’s bravery for opposing a law in favour of abortion in 1990.
“The king was courageous because faced with this murderous law, he did not sign, and he resigned,” the pope said. “That takes courage.”
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