Pope Leo XIV has pledged to prioritise global peace, rejecting war as inevitable and offering the Vatican’s role in mediating international conflicts.
Pope Leo XIV, the first American pontiff in history, has vowed to make "every effort" to promote peace worldwide, reiterating his readiness to offer the Vatican as a neutral venue for dialogue between warring parties.
Speaking to representatives of the Eastern Catholic Churches—many of whom come from areas affected by violence such as Ukraine, Syria, Lebanon and Iraq—Leo emphasised that "war is never inevitable" and warned that weapons only worsen human suffering.
"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 said.
He cautioned against binary worldviews that frame others as enemies, instead urging recognition of shared humanity. "Our neighbours are not first our enemies, but fellow human beings," he noted.
Since succeeding Pope Francis last week, Leo has repeatedly called for peace. His first words to the public from St Peter’s Square were “Peace be with all you.”
On Sunday, the pontiff called for a lasting peace in Ukraine, a ceasefire in Gaza, the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas, and expressed support for the ongoing ceasefire between India and Pakistan.
Leo spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday in his first confirmed conversation with a world leader. According to Zelenskyy, the Pope offered to facilitate peace negotiations.
Zelenskyy is expected to attend the Pope's inauguration mass on 18 May in St Peter’s Square, with his chief of staff Andriy Yermak confirming that side meetings could take place during the visit.
Pope Leo XIV made a surprise visit to the Basilica of Our Lady of Good Counsel in Genazzano. AnewZ covered the event, with journalist Maria Rodriguez Abalde on-site. She witnessed the occasion firsthand and documented key moments. More images and footage will be available soon.
Pope Leo XIV made his first public outing on Saturday since being elected, stopping to pray at the tomb of Pope Francis at St Mary Major Basilica in Rome.
Pope Leo XIV has identified artificial intelligence (AI) as one of the key challenges facing humanity as he outlined his vision for the papacy.
Pope Leo XIV marked his first full day as head of the Roman Catholic Church with a solemn Mass in the Sistine Chapel on Friday, just one day after his historic election as the first American pope.
The swift election of Pope Leo XIV reflects a clear consensus among cardinals for continuity, unity, and a leader capable of bridging divides both within the Church and across the globe.
President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov participated in a capsule-laying ceremony marking the start of construction for the new Jalal-Abad International Airport in Suzak district, the presidential press service. reported.
Qatar signed a landmark agreement with U.S. aerospace giant Boeing on Wednesday to acquire 160 aircraft for Qatar Airways, a deal valued at $200 billion. The signing took place in Doha during the visit of U.S. President Donald Trump.
Plan-S has entered a strategic partnership with Azerbaijan's national space agency, Azercosmos, to support the country’s digital transformation through satellite-based solutions, particularly in rural areas and sectors like agriculture and energy.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha met in Antalya on Wednesday to discuss efforts toward a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine and Türkiye’s role in facilitating peace talks.
The Central Asian Conference on Climate Change, organized by Turkmenistan’s Ministry of Environmental Protection in collaboration with the Regional Environmental Center for Central Asia (CAREC), has launched in Ashgabat.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the war in Gaza will not stop until Hamas is destroyed, following the release of US-Israeli soldier Edan Alexander.
U.S. President Donald Trump kicked off his Gulf tour with a high-profile visit to Saudi Arabia, securing a major strategic economic agreement and pledging deep investment ties between the two nations.
EU approves 17th Russia sanctions, blacklisting almost 200 shadow‑fleet ships, 30 evasion firms and 75 defence figures, banning missile chemicals and arming Brussels to strike Kremlin hybrid and operations.
A Rafale fighter jet operated by the Indian Air Force has reportedly been shot down for the first time in combat, according to sources cited by CNN, marking a significant and symbolic development in the ongoing escalation between India and Pakistan.
Lyle and Erik Menendez, convicted for killing their parents in 1989, have been declared eligible for parole after 35 years in prison following a re-sentencing under California’s youthful offender law.
Qatar signed a landmark agreement with U.S. aerospace giant Boeing on Wednesday to acquire 160 aircraft for Qatar Airways, a deal valued at $200 billion. The signing took place in Doha during the visit of U.S. President Donald Trump.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha met in Antalya on Wednesday to discuss efforts toward a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine and Türkiye’s role in facilitating peace talks.
Iran is set to hold nuclear talks with Britain, France, and Germany (E3) in Istanbul on Friday, aiming to align positions before upcoming U.S.-Iran negotiations.
U.S. President Donald Trump landed in Doha on Wednesday, continuing his Gulf tour after lifting all U.S. sanctions on Syria and holding a first meeting in Riyadh with Syria’s new president, Ahmed al‑Sharaa.
President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov participated in a capsule-laying ceremony marking the start of construction for the new Jalal-Abad International Airport in Suzak district, the presidential press service. reported.
Qatar signed a landmark agreement with U.S. aerospace giant Boeing on Wednesday to acquire 160 aircraft for Qatar Airways, a deal valued at $200 billion. The signing took place in Doha during the visit of U.S. President Donald Trump.
Plan-S has entered a strategic partnership with Azerbaijan's national space agency, Azercosmos, to support the country’s digital transformation through satellite-based solutions, particularly in rural areas and sectors like agriculture and energy.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha met in Antalya on Wednesday to discuss efforts toward a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine and Türkiye’s role in facilitating peace talks.
The Central Asian Conference on Climate Change, organized by Turkmenistan’s Ministry of Environmental Protection in collaboration with the Regional Environmental Center for Central Asia (CAREC), has launched in Ashgabat.
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