Pope Francis, in a message to the annual international meeting of the Community of Sant'Egidio in Berlin, emphasized the importance of not losing hope and persisting in prayer to combat war and conflict, particularly in Ukraine. The gathering, themed "The Audacity of Peace," is taking place from September 10 to 12, 2023, and has been faithfully attended by Pope Francis in recent years.

The Pope noted the symbolic location of the meeting near the Brandenburg Gate, where the Berlin Wall once stood, separating East and West Germany. He highlighted how the fall of the wall had opened new horizons of freedom, family reunification, and hopes for world peace after the Cold War. However, he lamented that over time, these promises were overshadowed by special interests and mutual mistrust.

Acknowledging ongoing conflicts worldwide, including the protracted war in Ukraine, the Pope stressed the need for an "audacity of peace" beyond realism and political considerations. He called for a transformative approach, challenging believers and the international community to turn this audacity into persistent prayer, invoking divine intervention for seemingly impossible peace.

Insistent prayer, Pope Francis explained, is the first step in this audacity of peace, citing the Gospel's encouragement to pray without losing heart. He urged all, including those of different religions and those who refuse to accept conflict's inevitability, to become "beggars for peace."

The Pope expressed gratitude to the participants for their dedication to peace and encouraged them to persist in prayer for peace, even when faced with seemingly insurmountable obstacles. He called on politicians, leaders, and diplomats to join this prayerful endeavor, emphasizing that peace is difficult but not impossible to achieve. Pope Francis concluded by appealing for prayers to open pathways to peace, particularly for war-torn Ukraine, trusting that the Lord hears the cries of His children.