Please stop!: Pope Francis makes emotional appeal for peace

USPA News - Pope Francis made an emotional appeal for peace Sunday, urging people on the eve of the centenary of the outbreak of World War I to learn from mistakes of the past and base decisions on the common good and on the respect for each person, rather than on special interests. The pontiff made his urgent appeal in an unexpected addition to his regular Angelus address to thousands of people who gathered at St. Peter`s Square in Vatican City. He made the plea on the eve of the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of World War I, which resulted in the deaths of tens of millions of people.

"Tomorrow will be a day of mourning in memory of this tragedy," Pope Francis said. "As we remember this tragic event, I hope that the mistakes of the past will not be repeated, as we should take into account the lessons of history, so that peace always prevails through patient and courageous dialogue." The pontiff said his thoughts went out to the Middle East, Iraq, and Ukraine, in particular. "I ask that you continue to join me in prayer so that the Lord may grant to the people and to the authorities of those areas the wisdom and strength needed to push ahead with the path of peace by addressing each dispute with the force of dialogue and reconciliation," he said. Francis urged people to base each decision on the common good and on the respect for each person, rather than special interests, saying all is lost with war and nothing is lost with peace. "Brothers and sisters, never war! Never war!," he said. "I think above all of children, whose hopes for a dignified future are taken from them. Dead children, injured children, mutilated children, orphaned children, children whose toys are remnants of war, and children who don`t know how to smile anymore. Please stop! I ask you with all my heart. It`s time to stop! Please stop!"