Pope Francis called this Friday for peace in the Middle East and for those "blinded by power and hatred" to be reconciled, leading a prayer in St. Peter's Basilica for the end of global conflicts. Accompanied by cardinals, bishops and representatives of other faiths, the pontiff framed his prayer "in these times plagued by conflict and devastated by weapons," at a time when "the human family has lost the path of peace." "Intercede for our world in danger and confusion. Teach us to welcome and care for life, all human life!, and to repudiate the madness of war, which sows death and eliminates the future," the Pope asked the Virgin during the event called after the start of a new spiral of violence between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas after the October 7 attacks. "Move the hearts of those who are trapped by hatred, convert those who feed and foment conflicts," Francis later added, amidst the Holy See's constant demands for the release of the hostages kidnapped by Hamas and for Israel to cease the attacks. attacks on civilians in Gaza.