On Sunday, August 31, Pope Leo XIV called for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine and dialogue.
He wrote about this on social network X, as reported by Espreso.
"The war in Ukraine continues to sow death and destruction. I once again express my closeness to the Ukrainian people and to all affected families. I ask everyone not to give in to indifference, but to draw close to them through prayer and concrete gestures of charity. I repeat my firm appeal for an immediate ceasefire and genuine engagement in dialogue," the pontiff said.
He added that “it is time for those in power to abandon the logic of weapons and to take up the path of negotiation and peace, with the support of the international community.”
“The voice of weapons must fall silent, and the voice of fraternity and justice must prevail,” Pope Leo XIV concluded.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the Pope on social media for his call to end the war and killings.
“We fully share His Holiness's call for an immediate ceasefire and urge Russia to take real steps to stop the killings and create conditions for diplomatic negotiations. Russia must end the war it started and refuses to stop,” the head of state stressed.
The president also noted that it is extremely important that “everyone in the world who values human life put pressure on Moscow to force it to stop the terror and instead participate in a meaningful peace process.”