Pope Francis: I Am With You Gazans, Pray For Me Every Day

Pope Francis/DOK via Instagram @franciscus

JAKARTA - Pope Francis criticized what he called "disgraceful inability" of the international community to end the war in the Middle East, one year after Hamas' attack on Israel.

"A year ago, hatred had ignited; hatred did not subside, but exploded into a spiral of violence," he said in an open letter to Catholics in the region.

"It seems that only a few people care about what is most needed and desired, dialogue and peace," he wrote.

"Violence never brings peace. History proves this, but conflicts for years don't seem to teach us any lessons," he said.

Pope Francis, who also makes Monday a fasting day and a prayer for peace for Catholics globally, has spoken more openly in recent weeks about the Hamas-Israeli conflict.

On September 29, the 87-year-old Pope criticized Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon that killed Hezbollah's leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and non-combatants, and stated that the airstrikes were "beyond morality".

Earlier in September, the Pope called Israel's actions in Lebanon unacceptable and urged the international community to do everything possible to stop fighting.

In his letter on Monday, Pope Francis directly advised Gazans.

I am with you, the people of Gaza, who have been fought for a long time and are in trouble. You are in my thoughts and prayers every day," he wrote.

I am with you, who was forced to leave your house, leave school and work and find shelter from the bombing. I am with you, who are afraid to look up for fear of rain. down from the sky, "he said.