Pope Francis: Arms trade contradicts the spirit of the Olympics

Pope Francis has strongly condemned the global arms trade. "While many people in the world are suffering from disasters and hunger, we continue to produce and sell weapons and burn resources, fuelling wars large and small," he said on Sunday during midday prayers in St. Peter's Square. "This is a scandal that the international community should not tolerate and which contradicts the spirit of fraternity of the Olympic Games that have just begun," said Francis.

"Let us not forget: war is a defeat!" emphasised the head of the Church. In recent days, the Pope had repeatedly called for the Olympic truce that was in place during the ancient games. For the first time in months, he did not specifically call for prayers for Ukraine, Israel, Palestine and Myanmar during the midday prayer. The head of the church also remembered the victims of the landslide in south-west Ethiopia. He assured the population, who had to endure so much suffering, of his closeness and hoped that help would come soon, said the Pontiff. According to UN figures, the death toll has risen to at least 257 following several landslides in the landlocked north-east African country. Other sources put the death toll at up to 500. In addition, thousands had to be evacuated. The search for survivors continues.

Francis also referred to the fourth World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly, which the Church is celebrating this Sunday under the motto "Do not abandon me when I am old". "The abandonment of elderly people is a sad reality to which we must not become accustomed," the 87-year-old appealed. For many of them, loneliness threatens to become an almost unbearable burden, especially in these summer days. The day of action calls on us not to abandon the elderly, said the Pope. It is important to strengthen the alliance between young and old. The future depends a lot on whether the generations learn to live together, said Francis. "Let us say no to the loneliness of the elderly." He concluded by calling on those gathered in St Peter's Square, which was hot in summer, to applaud all grandparents and senior citizens. (mtr/KNA)