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.
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The year 2025 proved to be one of the most transformative periods for the Roman Catholic Church in recent history, beginning with the death of Pope Francis and culminating in the election and early diplomatic outreach of his successor, Pope Leo XIV.
Ukraine "deeply appreciates" the humanitarian support of Pope Leo XIV. This was stated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after a meeting between the two at the papal residence of Castel Gandolfo, on Tuesday, 9 December.
Pope Leo XIV will end a three-day visit to Lebanon on Tuesday (2 December), concluding his first overseas trip as Catholic leader with an urgent appeal for peace in the Middle East and a warning that humanity’s future is threatened by the world’s bloody conflicts.
Pope Leo XIV visited Martyrs’ Square in Beirut on Monday, the second day of his Apostolic Journey to Lebanon, where he met with Christian and interreligious leaders to promote dialogue and unity among different faiths.
U.S. President Donald Trump has criticised American freestyle skier Hunter Hess after the athlete said he felt conflicted about representing the United States at the Winter Olympics in Italy, sparking a public clash that highlights growing political tensions surrounding the Games.
Iran would retaliate by striking U.S. military bases across the Middle East if it comes under attack by American forces, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Saturday (7 January), stressing that such action should not be seen as targeting the countries hosting those bases.
U.S. skiing great Lindsey Vonn underwent surgery in an Italian hospital on Sunday after her attempt to win Olympic downhill gold ended in a violent crash just seconds into the race at the Milano Cortina Winter Games.
A Japanese city near Mount Fuji has cancelled its annual cherry blossom festival, saying growing numbers of badly behaved tourists are disrupting daily life for residents.
Several avalanches struck northern Italy on Saturday, killing at least three people, as rescue officials warned the death toll could rise with unstable conditions persisting across the Alps.
Hong Kong’s most prominent media tycoon Jimmy Lai was sentenced on Monday (9 February) to a total of 20 years in prison on national security charges. The verdict covers two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and one count related to publishing seditious materials.
Russian overnight drone attacks killed at least three people in Ukraine’s east and south on Monday (9 February), with officials reporting casualties in the Kharkiv, Odesa and Dnipropetrovsk regions.
Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis said on Sunday (8 February) he was in favour of banning the use of social media by children under 15 of age, as a growing number of European countries consider similar restrictions.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 9th of February, covering the latest developments you need to know.
A South Korean Army AH-1S Cobra attack helicopter crashed on Monday (9 Febuary) during a training flight in the northern county of Gapyeong, killing both crew members on board, the military said.
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