“Unfortunately, the situation in Sudan remains serious.

“Therefore, I renew my appeal for the violence to cease as soon as possible and for the path of dialogue to be resumed,” Francis said at the Regina Coeli address and blessing, which replaces the usual Sunday angelus blessing at this time of the Catholic Church year.

“I invite everyone to pray for our Sudanese brothers and sisters,” he added.

Francis also said he was due to travel to Hungary on Friday to finish a journey made in 2021 for the International Eucharistic Congress.

“It will also be a journey to the centre of Europe, over which icy winds of war continue to blow,” continued the Pope, reminding the faithful gathered in St Peter's Square “not to forget our Ukrainian brothers and sisters who are still afflicted by this war”.

“The movement of so many people places urgent humanitarian issues on the agenda,” he added.

Referring to Earth Day on Saturday, the Pope said he hoped that “the commitment to the care for creation will always be united with real solidarity with the poorest people”.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on Sunday all Italians in Sudan had been contacted by the ministry's crisis unit and that they are fine.

“They have been called one by one: they are all fine and will go to our embassy.

“I cannot tell you any more for security reasons,” Tajani said.

On Saturday evening government sources said an emergency plan to protect the approximately 140 Italians currently in Sudan had been drawn up during a meeting at Palazzo Chigi also involving Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Tajani, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, Chief of the Defence Staff, and General Francesco Paolo Figliuolo, Chief of the Interforce Summit Operations Command.

Later on Sunday, two Italian air force planes took off from Djibouti for the Sudanese capital Khartoum at 2pm Italian time, marking the start of operations to evacuate 200 civilians, including the 140 Italians, out of Sudan.

“The evacuation activities of our compatriots are coordinated by the Interforce Summit Operations Command,” Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said.

“Two Air Force C-130s have already taken off , with Italian army and Carabinieri special forces personnel on board.

“Airport security is provided by air force air riflemen,” Crosetto added.

ANSA