Pope Leo XIV has again appealed for an end to hostilities in both Ukraine and Gaza, asking for dialogue, the cessation of violence, the freedom of Israeli hostages and for humanitarian law to be respected. Source: Crux.
Speaking at the close of his general audience yesterday, the Pope said that his thoughts in recent days “often go to the Ukrainian people, struck by new, serious attacks against civilians and infrastructure”.
His appeal comes as both Russia and Ukraine have launched a series of drone attacks against one another, despite ongoing peace negotiations and despite claims from Moscow that it was finalising its own peace proposal to end the war that has been raging for three years.
Ukrainian air force officials said on Tuesday that the previous night Russia had deployed some 60 drones across multiple regions, injuring 10 people, with Kyiv air defences saying they intercepted 43 of them.
The strikes came shortly after Ukraine endured one of the heaviest air offensives since the outbreak of the full-scale war in February 2022, with some 355 drone strikes occurring on Sunday alone, according to Ukraine’s air force, marking a record number.
Russia has said its strikes were in response to increased strikes by Ukraine on its own civilians and accused Kyiv of attempting to “disrupt” peace efforts.
“I forcefully renew the appeal to stop the war and to support every initiative for dialogue and peace,” Pope Leo said, and he asked the world to join him “in praying for peace in Ukraine and wherever there is suffering from war.”
To this end, he also issued an appeal for peace in Gaza, lamenting the impact the conflict has had on children, in particular.
“From the Gaza Strip, the cries of mothers and fathers rise ever more intensely to heaven, as they hold the lifeless bodies of children, and who are continually forced to move in search of a little food and a safer shelter from the bombings,” he said.
The plea was a reference to the approximately 180,000 Palestinians who have been displaced seeking new places of shelter since Israel launched a fresh, intensified military offensive two weeks ago.
With deaths and hunger increasing and no clear solution in sight, Pope Leo yesterday asked all those in positions of responsibility to “cease fire, let all the hostages be freed, let humanitarian law be fully respected!”
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Pope issues appeal for peace in Ukraine, Gaza amid fresh violence (By Elise Ann Allen, Crux)
