Pope Leo XIV called for a “just and lasting” peace in Ukraine during his first Sunday noon blessing as pontiff.
“I carry in my heart the suffering of the beloved Ukrainian people,” he said from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica of the Vatican City, according to Vatican News.
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The new pontiff also proclaimed “Never again war!” and called for “every effort [to] be made to reach a true, just, and lasting peace as soon as possible.”
According to AFP and AP News, the Pope also called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, with the release of hostages and the delivery of humanitarian aid.
The new pontiff’s comments referenced his predecessor Pope Francis in his Sunday speech, calling the conflicts around the world a “third world war in pieces.”
His choice of words on Ukraine echoes the language of Kyiv and strikes a noticeably firmer tone than Pope Francis, who – while advocating for peace – has been criticized for his lukewarm stance on Moscow’s invasion.
In 2022, Pope Leo XIV – then a bishop – has called Moscow’s invasion a “real imperialist invasion” in an interview with a Peruvian media.
The new pontiff was elected on Thursday as the first American in history to hold the position after his predecessor passed away in late April.
The new Pope had pledged to continue the legacy of his predecessor.
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