Pope deplores deaths in Gaza and Ukraine from ‘folly of war’

Pope Francis on Wednesday issued a fresh appeal for peace in Gaza and Ukraine, deploring the killing of aid workers in an Israeli airstrike and paying tribute to a Ukrainian soldier who died in the war against Russia.
Seven people working for the aid charity World Central Kitchen (WCK) were killed on Monday in Gaza in what Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called an unintended and “tragic” incident.
“I express deep regret for the volunteers killed while they were engaged in distributing humanitarian aid in Gaza. I pray for them and their families,” Francis said during his weekly audience.
He renewed calls for an “immediate” Gaza ceasefire, the release of all Israeli hostages kidnapped by Palestinian militants Hamas, full access for humanitarian aid, and warned against any “irresponsible” regional widening of the conflict.