After his traditional Sunday prayer from the window of his office overlooking St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV spoke about developments in the Russia-Ukraine war.
The Pope said he was following with sorrow the attacks targeting various Ukrainian cities and civilian infrastructure, adding that innocent people had lost their lives. He said the people of Ukraine had been living with anxiety and fear for years.
The Pope calls for diplomacy
Renewing his call for an end to the violence and destruction, Pope Leo XIV said hearts must be opened to dialogue and peace. He called for diplomatic efforts to continue with the aim of ending the conflict in Ukraine.
The Pope also referred to contacts in Moscow and Kyiv by U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, aimed at resolving the Ukraine crisis. He expressed hope that the talks would contribute to restarting negotiations.
The Pope said he hoped these initiatives would produce concrete results and create space for diplomacy.