Pope prays for 'martyred Palestine, Israel, Lebanon'

(ANSA) - ROME, OCT 20 - Pope Francis during his Sunday Angelus prayer called for peace, referring in particular to the Middle East, as well as Ukraine and other areas.
    "We continue to pray for the populations suffering due to war: the martyred Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, the martyred Ukraine, Sudan, Myanmar and all the others".
    "We invoke for all the gift of peace", the pontiff said.
    On Sunday, the pontiff created a new group of saints, canonising 14 people including the "martyrs of Damascus" who were murdered in the Syrian capital in 1860 in an attack by Druze militants.
    Francis presided over the canonisation ceremony in Saint Peter's Square which was attended by thousands of faithful.
    President Sergio Mattarella was also present along with Government Undersecretary Alfredo Mantovano. (ANSA).