During his Angelus address on Sunday, Pope Francis made a heartfelt plea for the release of the remaining hostages held by Hamas.
He particularly remembered 23-year-old American Hersh Goldberg-Polin and five others whose remains were discovered by the Israeli military in Gaza last month.
“I am keeping the victims in my prayers and stand in solidarity with the families of the hostages,” Pope Francis stated on September 15, following his traditional Marian prayer.
Tragic Discovery of Hostage Bodies
The bodies of Goldberg-Polin, Ori Danino, Eden Terushalmi, Almog Sarusi, Alexander Lobanov, and Carmel Gat were located in a tunnel in Gaza by the Israeli Defense Forces on August 30.
The IDF reported that postmortem examinations revealed the hostages were killed by two gunmen with separate weapons on the evening of August 29.
A Personal Touch from the Pope
Addressing the crowd from a window overlooking St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis recounted meeting Rachel Goldberg, Hersh’s mother, and other Israeli hostage families at the Vatican in November 2023.
“Her humanity left a profound impression on me. I stand with her in this difficult time,” the Pope shared.
Urging for Peace and Negotiations
Pope Francis called for an end to the ongoing conflict between Palestine and Israel.
“Stop the violence, stop the hatred, release the hostages, continue negotiations, and seek peaceful solutions,” he urged.
Reflection on the Gospel
Before the Angelus, Pope Francis offered a reflection on the day’s Gospel from St. Mark, where Jesus asks his disciples, “Who do you say that I am?”
“Peter responds correctly, ‘You are the Christ,’” the Pope explained.
“However, when Jesus speaks of his forthcoming suffering and death, Peter objects, and Jesus rebukes him sharply: ‘Get behind me, Satan! For you are not on the side of God, but of men.’”
Knowing Jesus: A Deep Connection
Pope Francis highlighted that this interaction challenges us to reflect on our own understanding of Jesus.
“Peter’s words were correct, but his mindset hadn’t yet changed,” the Pope observed.
“This is a significant message for us.
It’s not enough to know about Jesus; we must truly follow him and build a relationship with him.”
Transformative Power of Encountering Jesus
According to Pope Francis, truly knowing Jesus transforms every aspect of our lives.
“It alters our way of thinking, our relationships, our capacity to accept and forgive, and the choices we make,” he said.
“A genuine encounter with Jesus changes everything.”
A Call to Self-Examination
Citing Lutheran theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who was martyred for opposing the Nazis, Pope Francis shared a quote from Bonhoeffer’s “Letters and Papers from Prison.”
“He questioned what Christianity really means for us today,” the Pope noted.
“Many people no longer ask themselves this question and remain detached from God,” he observed.
“It’s crucial to ask ourselves if we let this question challenge us and if we follow Jesus in a way that transforms our lives.”