Pope ready to mediate in peace talks
- Svitlana Ivanchenko
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16:15, 14 May, 2025
Pope Leo XIV. Photo: VaticannewsPope Leo XIV has expressed his readiness to mediate in peace talks between countries at war.
He said this during a meeting with representatives of 23 Christian churches in the East, Vaticannews reports.
The pontiff mentioned the armed conflicts in Ukraine, the Holy Land, Tigray and other regions, emphasising the deep human tragedies unfolding in these parts of the world.
«The Holy See exists so that enemies can meet and look into each other's eyes, so that peoples can rediscover the hope and dignity to which they are entitled, the dignity of peace... I will do everything in my power to spread peace,» the Pope said.
Addressing the peoples of the world and their leaders directly, Pope Leo made a sincere appeal: «Let us meet, let us talk, let us negotiate!».
He noted that «war is never inevitable», and called for the abandonment of weapons, «which do not solve problems, but only complicate them».
Earlier, it was reported that President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy is considering a meeting with the newly elected Pope Leo XIV on Sunday, 18 May. At the same time, he stressed that this visit would take place only if negotiations with Russia develop favourably.