VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV issued a powerful call for “courage” from world leaders engaged in brokering a peace plan for Gaza, using his weekly Angelus address on Sunday to frame the nascent diplomatic efforts as a moral imperative for a war-ravaged region.
Speaking from a window overlooking St. Peter’s Square, the US-born pontiff acknowledged the fragile beginnings of the process. “The agreement to begin the peace process has given a spark of hope in the Holy Land, a land that has known too much darkness,” he told the gathered faithful.
His comments came on the eve of a high-stakes international summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, aimed at solidifying the first phase of a ceasefire. The summit, to be jointly chaired by US President Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, represents the most significant diplomatic effort in months to end the conflict, which was triggered by Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.
“I encourage the parties involved to courageously continue on the path toward a just and lasting peace that respects the legitimate aspirations of the Israeli and Palestinian peoples,” the Pope stated, his voice firm. He went beyond political rhetoric, however, to dwell on the profound human cost of the two-year war, which has resulted in over 67,000 Palestinian deaths, according to local health authorities, and widespread devastation.
“Two years of conflict have left death and destruction everywhere, but especially in the hearts of those who have brutally lost their children, their parents, their friends, everything,” he said, his tone somber. In a moment of spiritual reflection, he then asked God to help leaders and citizens alike “accomplish what now seems humanly impossible: to rediscover that the other is not an enemy, but a brother to look to, forgive, and offer the hope of reconciliation.”
Ukraine Conflict and a Plea for Global Attention
Pope Leo also expressed his “profound sorrow” over what he described as “new, violent attacks that have hit several cities and civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, causing the deaths of innocent people, including children.” He lamented that the Ukrainian people have “lived in anguish and deprivation for years” under the shadow of Russia’s ongoing invasion.
His dual focus on Gaza and Ukraine highlighted a growing concern within the Vatican and among Western allies that the world’s attention—and diplomatic capital—has been dangerously diverted. Officials in Kyiv have repeatedly stated that their efforts to secure a diplomatic end to the war have slowed considerably as international focus shifted to the Middle East.
The Pope’s appeal for peace in Ukraine thus served as a poignant reminder of another unresolved conflict, echoing calls from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Just a day earlier, in a pointed public statement, Zelensky had urged President Trump to apply his diplomatic efforts to Ukraine. “If you can stop one war, in the Middle East, others can be stopped as well,” Zelensky said, framing a potential U.S.-brokered peace as a test of global leadership.
As the world watches the Sharm el-Sheikh summit, Pope Leo’s words underscored the immense challenges ahead. The path to peace, he suggested, requires not just political agreements but a fundamental “courage” to see humanity in one’s adversary—a task he acknowledged as seemingly impossible, yet essential for a future free from the cycle of violence.
Support Dawat Media Center
If there were ever a time to join us, it is now. Every contribution, however big or small, powers our journalism and sustains our future. Support the Dawat Media Center from as little as $/€10 – it only takes a minute. If you can, please consider supporting us with a regular amount each month. Thank you
DNB Bank AC # 0530 2294668
Account for international payments: NO15 0530 2294 668
Vipps: #557320
Support Dawat Media Center
If there were ever a time to join us, it is now. Every contribution, however big or small, powers our journalism and sustains our future. Support the Dawat Media Center from as little as $/€10 – it only takes a minute. If you can, please consider supporting us with a regular amount each month. Thank you
DNB Bank AC # 0530 2294668
Account for international payments: NO15 0530 2294 668
Vipps: #557320
Comments are closed.