Pope mentions civilian victims of Russian war in Ukraine during Sunday prayer

At his Angelus address on Sunday, Pope Francis decried suffering in Ukraine, Myanmar, the Middle East, Haiti, and Istanbul, while appealing for pursuing paths of peace, and also remembered World Leprosy Day, celebrated today, the last Sunday of January.

That’s according to Vatican News, Ukrinform reports.

"And the same in the Middle East, Palestine and Israel, and wherever there is fighting: respect the people!" the Pope appealed, adding, "I always think in a heartfelt way of all the victims, especially civilians, caused by the war in Ukraine."

"Please let their cry for peace be heard: the cry of the people, who are tired of violence and want the war, which is a disaster for the peoples and a defeat for humanity, to stop!" pontiff stressed.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, in Ukraine, about 530 religious buildings were damaged as a result of Russian shelling, according to the Kharkiv Human Rights Group.

Approximately 863 cultural heritage sites have been destroyed or damaged as a result of Russian aggression in Ukraine.