Pope Leo hails renewed peace talks on Ukraine

Pope Leo XIV. Photo: BBC

Pope Leo XIV has welcomed efforts to restart peace negotiations on Ukraine, expressing hope that the diplomatic contacts of recent days will produce practical results. He shared the message in a post on X addressing the situation in Ukraine.

Leo XIV said he remains in solidarity with the Ukrainian people, who have endured years of war. “My heart s united with the suffering of the people of Ukraine, who have lived in anguish and fear for years,” the pope wrote.

He also called for an end to the fighting and a return to dialogue. “I renew my appeal to put an end to the violence, halt the destruction, and open hearts to dialogue and peace!” the pontiff said.

Leo XIV specifically referred to the latest diplomatic efforts surrounding the visits of U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoys to Moscow and Kyiv. “I hope that the efforts undertaken in recent days to resume negotiations will bear concrete fruit and make room for diplomacy,” he wrote.

The pope concluded by calling on the faithful to pray for peace. “Let us pray together to the Lord that concord may prevail in every conflict throughout the world,” Leo XIV wrote.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that an OCU cleric claimed the pope was playing into Moscow’s hands.

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