The Pope: "For peace the Holy See works behind the scenes". And for Ukraine "Italy's role is important"

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT -

The Pope returned from Lebanon (and earlier from Turkey) and spoke on the plane about the meetings he had in Beirut, including with Shiite leaders: responding to a question about the message sent by Hezbollah before his departure, he said: "One aspect of this trip that was not the main cause, is that I also had personal meetings with representatives of different groups representing political authorities, people or groups that have something to do with the internal or even international conflicts in the region. Our work is mainly not a public thing that we declare on the streets, it is a bit behind the scenes. It is something we have already done and will continue to do to convince the parties to leave the weapons, the violence, and come together to the dialogue table. Look for answers and solutions that are not violent but can be more effective'. And on the message he adds: 'Yes I have seen it, evidently there is a proposal from the Church that they leave the weapons and seek dialogue. But more than that I prefer not to comment at this time'.

The Prevost was then asked, among other things, about the risks of cyber "attacks", a risk fought by NATO leaders: "This," he replied, "is an obviously important issue for peace in the world, but the Holy See has no direct participation because we are not members of NATO. Although many times we have called for a ceasefire, dialogue and not war. And a war with so many aspects now: the increase of weapons, all the production there is, cyber attacks, energy. Now that winter is coming there is a serious problem there. It is clear that, on the one hand, the president of the United States thinks he can promote a peace plan that he would like to do and that, at least at first, is without Europe. But Europe's presence is important and that first proposal was also changed because of what Europe was saying. Specifically I think Italy's role could be very important. Culturally and historically, Italy's ability to be an intermediary in the middle of a conflict that exists between different parties. Also Ukraine, Russia, the United States... In this sense, I could suggest that the Holy See could encourage this kind of mediation and we seek and search together for a solution that could really offer peace, a just peace, in this case in Ukraine'.

Will he use his contacts with Trump and the premier of Israel for Gaza, he is asked: 'First of all, yes, I think a sustainable peace is possible. I think that when we talk about hope, when we talk about peace, when we look to the future, we do so because it is possible that peace will once again come to the region and come to your country, to Lebanon. In fact, I have already had some conversations with some of the leaders and I intend to continue to do so, either personally or through the Holy See, because the fact is that we have diplomatic relations with most of the countries in the region, and it would certainly be our hope to continue to raise this call to peace that I spoke about at the end of today's Mass".

Then he was asked how he felt at the end of the Conclave, which elected him: 'On the Conclave, I absolutely believe in the secrecy of the Conclave, even though I know that there were public interviews where some things were revealed. I told a journalist the day before I was elected, who had stopped me in the street (Claudia Marchionni of Mediaset, ed.) that I was going to lunch with the Augustinians. And she asked me: 'You have become one of the candidates! What do you think?' And I simply replied: 'Everything is in God's hands. And I believe it deeply. One of you said to me the other day: tell me a book, other than St Augustine, that we could read to understand who Prevost is. There are many, but one of them is a book called The Practice of the Presence of God. It is a very simple book, by someone who does not even sign his surname, Brother Laurence, written many years ago. But it describes a type of prayer and spirituality whereby one simply gives his life to the Lord and allows the Lord to guide him. If you want to know something about me, about what has been my spirituality for many years, in the midst of great challenges, living in Peru during the years of terrorism, being called to serve in places I never thought I would be called to serve.