Pope Leo XIV Calls for Peace Negotiations Amid Ongoing Conflict
Pope Leo XIV made a heartfelt appeal to world leaders on Wednesday, urging them to come together and negotiate for peace, stating his desire for the weapons to fall silent. Speaking to representatives of the Eastern Churches during their Jubilee celebration, the Pope emphasized the importance of dialogue among enemies, expressing the Holy See's readiness to facilitate such meetings. "The people want peace, and I, with my heart in my hand, say to the leaders of the people: Let us gather, let us talk, let us negotiate," he declared.
He underscored that war is never inevitable and that weapons only exacerbate existing problems rather than resolve them. This appeal comes just before a critical meeting in Turkey, where representatives from Russia and Ukraine are set to convene. Russian President Vladimir Putin has yet to confirm his attendance, although Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed his willingness to meet face-to-face.
During the Jubilee celebration, Cardinal Robert Prevost highlighted the experiences of Eastern Churches, which are all too familiar with the horrors of war. Referring to Pope Francis's acknowledgment of these Churches as martyrs, Prevost remarked on the violent realities faced by populations from the Holy Land to Ukraine, Lebanon to Syria, and other conflict zones across the globe. The intensity of the suffering endured by civilians in war-torn areas sparked outrage among those present, as Leo XIV urged attendees to recognize the real victims amid military conquests.
As the Pope's words resonated through the Paul VI Hall, he reminded the congregation that fostering peace and reconciliation requires courage to turn the page and start anew. In his address, he committed to doing everything possible to extend peace, stating, "We must restore hope and dignity, the dignity of peace that all people deserve." He acknowledged that those who sow peace will be remembered favorably, while the real focus should be on dialogue, not division.
Leo XIV also called on the faithful to pray for Christians in the Middle East who are facing enormous challenges. He reiterated the need for these communities to have the opportunity to remain in their homelands with the rights necessary for safe existence, emphasizing that encouragement must go beyond words.
In light of ongoing violence and suffering, Leo XIV reiterated his message: "Let the weapons fall silent." He denounced the dangerous tendencies to view the world in simplistic terms of good versus evil and instead called for empathy and understanding, urging humanity to recognize the shared humanity of all individuals, including those regarded as enemies.
The Pope's urgent call for dialogue and peace reflects a profound yearning for reconciliation and the end of hostilities, asserting that the path forward lies in conversations, compassion, and kinship.
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