Fr. Faltas: We must point path to peace, like John the Baptist

By Devin Watkins

On Sunday, Pope Francis launched a heartfelt appeal for an end to armed conflicts and a firm condemnation of war as “a crime against humanity.”

“War itself is a crime against humanity. People need peace. The world needs peace,” said the Pope at the Sunday Angelus prayer.

He also mentioned a program he had seen on an Italian TV channel just minutes before, in which the Vicar of the Custody of the Holy Land appeared as a guest.

Fr. Ibrahim Faltas had spoken about the need to “educate for peace.”

The Pope agreed with him, and relaunched the Franciscan friar’s appeal.

“We must educate for peace,” he said. “It seems that we are not yet—all of humanity—with a sufficient education to stop every war. Let us always pray for this grace: to educate for peace.”

Fr. Faltas: ‘Jesus is justice and peace’

In response, Fr. Faltas sent a video message to Vatican News thanking the Pope for his concern for people suffering in the Holy Land due to the Israel-Hamas war.

“Right now,” said Fr. Faltas, “we need to learn from John the Baptist how to cry out and show the path to follow.”

Jesus, he added, is “the way. He is forgiveness, justice, love, and peace.”

“If we follow Jesus, we will truly have peace and there will be no war,” said Fr. Faltas.

He noted that there are over 60 ongoing wars in the world, calling the global situation “utter confusion.”

“We want to live in peace,” concluded Fr. Faltas. “We want to follow Jesus, so we will have peace throughout the world.”