Pope Leo XIV has offered to mediate between leaders of warring nations, pledging to make every possible effort to promote global peace.
The newly elected pontiff, who became the spiritual leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics last week, made the appeal during an address to members of the Eastern Catholic Churches on Wednesday at the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall.
“From the Holy Land to Ukraine, from Lebanon to Syria, from the Middle East to Tigray and the Caucasus — how much violence do we see!” Pope Leo said, urging prayers and actions for peace. “Who, better than you, can sing a song of hope even amid the abyss of violence?”
He emphasized the Vatican’s willingness to act as a mediator, stating, “The Holy See is always ready to help bring enemies together, face to face, to talk to one another, so that peoples everywhere may once more find hope and recover the dignity they deserve — the dignity of peace.”
The Pope appealed directly to global leaders: “The peoples of our world desire peace, and to their leaders I appeal with all my heart: Let us meet, let us talk, let us negotiate!”
During his speech, Leo XIV also addressed the plight of Christians in the Middle East, urging them not to abandon their homelands.
He praised those who have remained despite ongoing conflicts and called for the international community to support their right to live in safety and dignity.
“I thank God for those Christians — Eastern and Latin alike — who, above all in the Middle East, persevere and remain in their homelands, resisting the temptation to abandon them,” he said. “Christians must be given the opportunity, and not just in words, to remain in their native lands with all the rights needed for a secure existence. Please, let us strive for this!”
Pope Leo XIV succeeded Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21 at the age of 88. Wednesday’s event was part of preparations for the 2025 Jubilee Holy Year, which is dedicated to the 23 Eastern Catholic Churches spread across Eastern Europe, the Middle East, India, and parts of Africa.