Pope Francis described Israeli strikes on Lebanon as a 'terrible escalation' of the Middle East conflict during his weekly general audience at the Vatican on Wednesday. This event took place just two days after he had to cancel meetings due to a mild flu. The pope expressed that the attacks, which Israel claims are targeting Iran-backed Hezbollah movement affiliates, are 'unacceptable' and called upon the international community to take all necessary actions to stop the violence. Although Francis did not directly name Israel, he expressed deep sorrow over the news from Lebanon, where bombings have led to significant destruction and numerous casualties.
Despite recent health issues, the 87-year-old pontiff appeared to be in good health during the audience, though he coughed lightly a few times while speaking. The Vatican has not disclosed further details about the pope's health since announcing on Monday that he had canceled his meetings for that day. The Vatican stated that the decision was precautionary, considering his upcoming trip to Luxembourg and Belgium, which begins on Thursday. During the audience, the pope confirmed his plans to proceed with the visit and requested prayers for its success.
This foreign visit, marking his 46th as pope, comes shortly after his return from a demanding 12-day, four-country tour around Southeast Asia and Oceania. The pope made his remarks about the Lebanon strikes in spontaneous comments at the end of his hour-long audience. Since March 2013, when he became pope, Francis has frequently used a wheelchair due to knee and back pain. Earlier this year, he had to cancel several appointments due to various health issues, including a cold, bronchitis, and influenza.
During his September 2-13 trip to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor, and Singapore, Francis maintained a rigorous schedule, participating in over 40 events and traveling approximately 33,000 kilometers. On Wednesday, he began the general audience by touring the crowd in an open-air popemobile, waving to people while a band played orchestral versions of pop songs. In his main messages to pilgrims, the pope emphasized the dangers of temptation, including online pornography, which Catholic teaching strictly prohibits.
