Pope prays for release of prisoners of war, victims of torture

Ukrainian pilgrims at Audience

Source: Vatican News

Pope Francis has appealed for the release of prisoners of war, prayed for their freedom and denounceed the tortures many of them are subjected to.

Speaking off the cuff, at the end of the General Audience with pilgrims in St Peter's Square on Wednesday, Pope Francis said: "Our thoughts, at this moment, the thoughts of all of us, go to the peoples at war.. We think of the Holy Land, of Palestine, of Israel. We think of Ukraine, tormented Ukraine. We think of the prisoners of war..."

Raising an appeal for their freedom, the Pope said: "May the Lord move wills so they may all be freed"

Pope Francis then spoke about prisoners who are subjected to torture. He said: "The torture of prisoners is a horrible thing, it is not human... We think of so many kinds of torture that wound the dignity of the person, and of so many tortured people... May the Lord help everyone and bless everyone."