| Advertisement |
Pope Francis has obviously taken to Twitter as a means of communicating with young, social-media savvy Catholics around the world -- he even stopped to pose for a selfie at the Vatican last month. But now that the United States and other world leaders are seriously mulling the use of force in Syria, the 76-year-old pontiff is using Twitter to decry any possible strikes in the civil-war stricken country.
Advertisement
"War never again! Never again war!" he tweeted Monday. "We want a peaceful world, we want to be men and women of peace."
He continued to call for peace through the week, but added that he also condemned Syria's alleged use of chemical weapons.How much suffering, how much devastation, how much pain has the use of arms carried in its wake.
— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) September 2, 2013
We want in our society, torn apart by divisions and conflict, that peace break out!
— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) September 3, 2013
With utmost firmness I condemn the use of chemical weapons.
— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) September 3, 2013
Pope Francis coupled his anti-strike tweets with a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who met with President Barack Obama at the G-20 summit on Thursday.Let the cry for peace ring out in all the world!#prayforpeace
— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) September 4, 2013Advertisement
"To the leaders present, to each and every one, I make a heartfelt appeal for them to help find ways to overcome the conflicting positions and to lay aside the futile pursuit of a military solution," the pope wrote. "Rather, let there be a renewed commitment to seek, with courage and determination, a peaceful solution through dialogue and negotiation of the parties, unanimously supported by the international community."
