Vatican’s Pope Francis stated on Saturday that the conflicts unfolding in various areas of the world are nothing short of World War III, but segregated. Pope Francis condemned the trade of weapons and “those conspiring to execute terrorist operations”, who cultivate death and destruction. He added during High Mass held at the largest commemorative shrine for the victims of war in Italy, dating back to the fascist period, where more than 100 thousand soldiers were buried during World War I, “Humanity is in need of shedding tears, and this is the right time to shed tears.”
He resumed, “War is a form of lunacy. To this day, after failing in the other world war, perhaps a person can speak of a third war, but in installments, intercepted by crimes, massacres and destruction.”
Pope Francis had called during the past months for an end to the conflicts in Ukraine, Iraq, Syria and Gaza, along with parts of Africa. The Catholic Pope also clarified, “War is an illogical act. Its sole purpose is to occasion destruction, and it has no way forward but to continue destroying.” The pope continued, “Greed and fanaticism and power-grabbing: these are the driving forces behind any decision to go to war, most likely backed by some ideology.” He also stated that its legitimate for the international community to use force to stop “unfair animosity”, carried out by the militants of the Islamic State who have murdered thousands of people, displacing others, mostly Christians, from their homes in Iraq and Syria.
