Pope Francis has renewed his appeal for global peace by calling for the release of prisoners of war following the escalation of the conflicts between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, and the continued war between Russia and Ukraine.
“Our thoughts, at this moment, go to the peoples at war. We think of the Holy Land, of Palestine, of Israel. We think of Ukraine, tormented Ukraine. We think of the prisoners of war. May the Lord move wills so they may all be freed,” he stated during his weekly General Audience at the Vatican.
The Pope also spoke to the torture that many are meant to endure, which he classified as horrible and inhumane. He further prayed for divine assistance to help bring an end to the torture some prisoners of war are currently undergoing across the world. “We think of so many kinds of torture that wound the dignity of the person.”
Speaking to the fourth and final cardinal virtue of temperance, he stated that individual ability to control self will help savour everything they have in life, in a meaningful and joyful way. Accordingly, he stated that the ability to master self and moderate passion can lead toward true happiness.
According to him, temperance is a moral virtue that moderates the attraction of pleasures and provides balance in the use of created goods. “Temperance ensures the will’s mastery over instincts and keeps desires within the limits of what is honorable; directs the sensitive appetites toward what is good and maintains a healthy discretion, and does not follow the base desires, but restrains the appetites.”
He stated further that temperance was once understood as one’s capacity for self-mastery and the art of not letting oneself to be overcome by rebellious passions. Hence the Pope suggested that temperance is the virtue of the right measure.
Pope Francis stated further that many people who have wanted to try everything voraciously have found themselves losing the taste for everything.
According to him, the free course of impulses and total license accorded to pleasures end up backfiring on the individual, and could plunge such individuals into a state of boredom. “To appreciate a good wine, to taste it in small sips, is better than swallowing it all in one go,” he stated.
According to him, the temperate person knows how to weigh words and does them well, and acknowledged that such persons know the time to speak and when to be silent. “He does not allow a moment’s anger to ruin relationships and friendships that can then only be rebuilt with difficulty in family life, where inhibitions are lower; we all run the risk of not keeping tensions, irritations and anger in check.
“The temperate person knows that nothing is more uncomfortable than correcting another person, but he also knows that it is necessary. This does not mean we always find him with a peaceful and smiling face, but always in the right way,” he stated.
