War and peace

Visitors in the square gave the pope several presents as he rode around in the open popemobile, such as two white cowboy hats and a small pizza box.

He called for “negotiations aimed at securing a future of peace for all peoples, and for the rejection of anything that might jeopardize it.”

“If you direct your prayer to all victims of war, you are always on the right track,” a Dutch bishop emphasized.

“Sectarian violence, of whatever religious or ideological type, if not stopped, will derail Syria’s full integration into the community of nations.”

“Here in Iraq, we carry the memory of shattered cities and displaced people,” said Chaldean Catholic Archbishop Bashar M. Warda.

While the church will not be involved in political discussions, it “can’t be silent” and needs to speak out and advocate for peace, said Cardinal Pizzaballa.