On the flight to Poland, Francis speaks about the murder of the French priest, saying it was down to a conflict of interests and money.
“The world is at war” but what we are living through “is not a religious war,” Pope Francis told journalists travelling with him to Krakow. Fr. Federico Lombardi asked the Pope to comment on the terrible murder of the French priest.
“The word on everyone’s lips is ‘security’,” Bergoglio said, “but the real word is ‘war’. The world is at war, a piecemeal war. There was the 1914 war, which had its methods, then the 1939-45 war and now this one”.
“It is not really organic but it is organised,” Francis continued. “But it is a war. This holy priest, who died just as he was offering a prayer for peace. He is one person, but how many Christians, how many innocent people, how many children… Let us think of Nigeria, for example. We say: but that is Africa! It’s war. We,” the Pope continued, “are not afraid to tell the truth, the world is at war because it has lost its peace”.
Francis turned his thoughts to the young people attending World Youth Day: “Youth always speaks hope to us. We hope young people will tell us something that is a bit more than hope at this time.” The Pope also expressed his gratitude for the messages of condolence he received, “especially the one from the French president,” Hollande, whom he thanked “like a brother”.
After greeting each of the journalists one by one, Francis took the microphone back so as to avoid any misunderstanding: “I would just like to add one more thing by way of clarification: when I speak of war, I mean real war, not religious war I speak of a war of interests, over money, nature’s resources and the domination of peoples.”
“I do no speak of a religious war. Religions,” he concluded, “all religions, seek peace. It’s others who want war. Understand?”
