Pope calls for peace in the Middle East and Ukraine

Pope Leo XIV called for peace in the Middle East, Ukraine and other parts of the world this Sunday, and recalled the recent massacre in Nigeria, where around 200 people died, most of them sheltering in a Catholic mission.

“Let us continue to pray for peace in the Middle East, in Ukraine and throughout the world,” the Pope asked in the Angelus prayer, in St. Peter’s Square, in the Vatican.

Leo XIV began by referring to Burma, where, “despite the ceasefire, fighting continues and even causes damage to civilian infrastructure”.

He urged all parties to follow “the path of dialogue, which is the only one that can lead to a peaceful and stable solution.”

The Vatican head of state also recalled that on the night of Friday to Saturday, in the city of Yelewata, Benue state, Nigeria, “a terrible massacre took place in which around 200 people were murdered with extreme cruelty”.

“Most of them were internally displaced people sheltered by the local Catholic mission,” said Leo XIV, who said he prayed “that security, justice and peace prevail in Nigeria, a beloved country so affected by various forms of violence.”

The leader of the Catholic Church also recalled the “rural Christian communities of Benin, victims of violence”, and the Republic of Sudan, “devastated by violence for two years”.

“I renew my appeal to the combatants to stop protecting civilians and to engage in dialogue for peace,” declared Leo XIV, urging “the international community to redouble its efforts to provide at least essential assistance to the population severely affected by the grave humanitarian crisis.”

Today, the Pope celebrated Mass on the occasion of the Jubilee of Sport and stated that the practice of sport “is a path to building peace” and that “the world today has a great need for it, as there are many armed conflicts”.