Pope Francis has met relatives of several Israelis taken hostage by Hamas in the October 7 attacks, AFP quoted the Vatican as saying.

Members of five Israeli families had a private audience with Francis on Monday, showing him posters of loved ones who were taken, including Ariel and Kfir Bibas, aged four and one respectively.

There were also relatives of hostages Tamir Nimrodi, 19, Guy Gilboa Dalal, 22, Agam Berger, 19, and Omri Miran, 46. The Israelis were in Italy as part of a delegation that included Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz.

Speaking on Sunday after delivering his weekly Angelus prayer at the Vatican, the pope repeated his call for peace. “Let us always pray for peace, a just, lasting peace, in particular for martyred Ukraine and for Palestine and Israel,” he said.

“May the spirit of the risen Lord enlighten and support those who work to reduce tension and favour the gestures that make negotiations possible.”