Today, Pope Francis welcomed to Rome a delegation of hostages who were kidnapped by Hamas on October 7, 2023. This emotional meeting underscored the Pontiff’s commitment to the victims of that tragic day, as well as his support for their release. The news was reported by the Embassy of Israel to the Holy See through a post on X.
The delegation, composed of individuals released after 50 days of captivity, scheduled meetings with representatives of institutions and the Italian Jewish community. During an afternoon press conference, members of the delegation shared their experiences. Among the participants is Adi Shoham, a 39-year-old clinical psychologist, who was kidnapped along with her sons Naveh (9) and Yahel (4), as well as her mother Shoshan (68), her aunt Sharon (52), and her cousin Noam (12). Although they were released, Adi’s husband Tal Shoham remains in captivity and her father was killed in the October 7 attack. Yelena Troufanov, a chemist with dual Israeli and Russian citizenship, shared her experience with her mother Irena (73 years old) and her son Sasha (29 years old), who is still a prisoner. Additionally, Yocheved Lifshitz (86) was released after being kidnapped with her husband Oded (83). Both were peace activists involved in the medical transportation of Palestinian patients. Finally, Sahar Kalderon (17 years old) and her brother Erez (12 years old) were released after being kidnapped in Kibbutz Nir Oz; their father Ofer is still in custody.
The meeting with Pope Francis represents a moment of hope for the families of the hostages still held. The stories told by the delegation members highlight the urgent need for peace in the region. As the international community continues to monitor the situation in the Middle East, the focus remains on freeing the remaining hostages and building a dialogue that can prevent future conflict. The hope is that moments like this can contribute to lasting change for all those involved in the crisis.
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