In his traditional Christmas address, Pope Leo XIV called on Russia and Ukraine to move from the language of weapons to direct dialogue. The pontiff emphasised the need to end violence and achieve a just peace.
This was reported by Vatican News.
During his annual Christmas message ‘Urbi et Orbi’ (‘To the city and to the world’), which Pope Leo XIV delivered from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, the pontiff expressed his sympathy for peoples suffering from armed, political and social conflicts. In his speech, he mentioned the situation in Sudan, Mali and Myanmar, and also expressed concern about the escalation between Thailand and Cambodia, calling on world leaders not to remain indifferent to the humanitarian consequences of these conflicts.
The Pope focused separately on Ukraine, calling it a country exhausted by violence. He called for an end to the use of weapons and stressed that the parties must find the courage for sincere and respectful dialogue, which, in his words, is a necessary condition for achieving lasting peace. The pontiff also emphasised the role of the international community in supporting this process.
‘Let us pray especially for the suffering Ukrainian people: may the rumble of weapons cease, and may the parties involved, supported by the efforts of the international community, find the courage to engage in sincere, direct and respectful dialogue,’ said Pope Leo XIV.
The pontiff noted that the prayers of the Catholic community are directed towards the Ukrainian people, who are celebrating Christmas in the midst of a full-scale war for the fourth winter in a row. He stressed that only direct communication and mutual respect can form the basis for ending a war that affects not only Eastern Europe but also global security.
The call for direct dialogue came amid reports that the Vatican is preparing for a possible visit by the Pontiff to Ukraine. Earlier, the President of Ukraine expressed solidarity with the Pope in condemning Russia’s actions, which, according to him, rejected calls for a ceasefire during the holidays and continued to strike civilian infrastructure.
