A stunning moment from the pope’s visit Saturday to Verona:
Pope Francis’s one-day pastoral visit to the northern Italian city of Verona on Saturday centered on a message of peace, offering an alternative to the current social paradigm. While the city is home to just over 250,000 residents, the pope’s message was global in scope.
“Peace will never be the result of mistrust, of walls, of weapons pointed at each other,” the pope said at the end of his address at the “Justice and Peace They Shall Kiss” meeting held at the Verona Arena.
“Everyone will reap what they sow,” he e said, quoting from St. Paul’s Letter to the Galatians. “Let’s not sow death, destruction, fear. Let’s sow hope!
The apex of the event came when the pope embraced Maoz Inon, an Israeli whose parents were killed in Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack, and Aziz Sarah, a Palestinian, whose brother was killed in the war.
Calling them “brothers,” Francis proceeded to hug each, calling the embrace “a project for the future.” This was met by a thunderous standing ovation, but followed by a moment of silence for the victims of the war.
Watch the video below.
