Pope Leo pledges to exert every effort for world peace.
May 14, 2025134 ViewsRead Time: 2 minutes
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Pope Leo XIV, the first American to lead the Catholic Church, pledged today, Wednesday, to make "every effort" for peace and offered the Vatican as a mediator in resolving global conflicts, stating that war is "not inevitable at all."
Pope Leo, who was elected last week to succeed the late Pope Francis, repeatedly called for peace in the early days of his tenure. His first words to the crowds in St. Peter's Square were "Peace be with you all."
The issue of peace was highlighted again during the Pope's conversation with members of the Eastern Catholic Churches, some of which are located in conflict areas such as Ukraine, Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq, often facing persecution as religious minorities.
Pope Leo said, "War is not inevitable at all. Weapons, or rather, must be silenced because they do not solve problems but exacerbate them. History will remember those who sow peace, not those who reap victims."
He added, "Our neighbors are not our enemies... but they are our brothers in humanity."
Last Sunday, the Pope called for "real and lasting peace" in Ukraine, for a ceasefire in Gaza, for the release of all Israeli hostages held by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), and welcomed the fragile ceasefire between India and Pakistan.
Pope Leo, who was elected last week to succeed the late Pope Francis, repeatedly called for peace in the early days of his tenure. His first words to the crowds in St. Peter's Square were "Peace be with you all."
The issue of peace was highlighted again during the Pope's conversation with members of the Eastern Catholic Churches, some of which are located in conflict areas such as Ukraine, Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq, often facing persecution as religious minorities.
Pope Leo said, "War is not inevitable at all. Weapons, or rather, must be silenced because they do not solve problems but exacerbate them. History will remember those who sow peace, not those who reap victims."
He added, "Our neighbors are not our enemies... but they are our brothers in humanity."
Last Sunday, the Pope called for "real and lasting peace" in Ukraine, for a ceasefire in Gaza, for the release of all Israeli hostages held by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), and welcomed the fragile ceasefire between India and Pakistan.
