During Pope Francis' 78th birthday celebration at the Vatican which was attended by thousands of Catholic devotees, the Pope expressed his sadness in the recent acts of terrorism worldwide, including those which took place in Australia, Pakistan and Yemen.
The Pope referred to the terrorism activities as 'violent' and 'inhuman', and called for the audience to pray for the victims.
However, aside from praying for the victims, the Pope also called for prayers for the people responsible for these acts. He asked everyone to pray to God that He 'convert the hearts of the violent who do not hold back even before children'.
Just earlier this week, an Iranian-born man took nine customers and eight employees hostage in a Sydney café. After a 16-hour standoff and after gunshots were heard inside, police stormed and raided the café. Two hostages and the suspect were found dead.
On Tuesday, Taliban gunmen attacked a Peshawar school in Pakistan, killing 148 people, of which 132 were students. The Pakistani government vowed to eliminate the terrorist group.
In that same day, Yemen terrorists bombed two cars, killing 31 people, including 20 schoolgirls of which majority were under the age of 12. Reports showed the bombs were placed by an Al-Qaeda affiliate in Rada, Yemen.
After praying for the victims of the terrorist acts, Pope Francis went on with his message for the audience in Vatican. The Pope's catechesis for his birthday showed the importance of the family, and how God himself emphasized its importance when Jesus Christ was born in a 'normal' human family.