Pope Leo XIV has “forcefully” appealed for an end to hostilities in both Ukraine and Gaza, asking for dialogue to ensure the cessation of violence, for the freedom of Israeli hostages and for humanitarian law to be respected.
Speaking at the close of his general audience on 28 May, the Pope said that his thoughts in recent days “often go to the Ukrainian people, struck by new, serious attacks against civilians and infrastructure”.
He added: “I assure my closeness and my prayers for all victims, especially for children and families.”
His appeal comes as both Russia and Ukraine have launched a series of drone attacks against each other, despite ongoing peace negotiations and despite claims from Moscow that it was finalising its own peace proposal to end the war that has been raging for three years.
Ukrainian air force officials claimed on Tuesday, 27 May, that the previous night Russia had deployed about 60 drones across multiple regions, injuring 10 people, with Kyiv air defenses saying they intercepted 43 of them.
In the central Ukrainian town of Dnipropetrovsk, the local governor, according to Al-Jazeera, said residential properties and an agricultural site had been damaged by Russian strikes, while in Kherson a 59-year-old man and six municipal workers were wounded.
The strikes came shortly after Ukraine endured one of the heaviest Russian air offensives since the outbreak of the war in February 2022, with some 355 drone strikes occurring on Sunday alone, according to Ukraine’s air force, marking a record number.
This latest escalation in hostilities prompted backlash from United States President Donald Trump, who accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of going “absolutely crazy”.
Russia said that its huge aerial assaults in recent days were a “response” to escalating Ukrainian drone attacks on its own civilians, accusing Kyiv of trying to “disrupt” peace efforts.
In a statement, the Russian Ministry of Defense said, “Kyiv, with the support of some European countries, has taken a series of provocative steps to thwart negotiations initiated by Russia.”
Meanwhile, Russian forces continue to advance, claiming to have captured new territory in northeastern Ukraine as global leaders grapple with efforts to negotiate a ceasefire.
Pope Leo XIV in his remarks on Wednesday said: “I forcefully renew the appeal to stop the war and to support every initiative for dialogue and peace.” He also asked the world to join him “in praying for peace in Ukraine and wherever there is suffering from war”.
To this end, he also issued an appeal for peace in Gaza, lamenting the impact the conflict has had on children, in particular.
“From the Gaza Strip, the cries of mothers and fathers rise ever more intensely to heaven, as they hold the lifeless bodies of children, and who are continually forced to move in search of a little food and a safer shelter from the bombings,” he said.
The plea was a reference to the roughly 180,000 Palestinians, according to the United Nations led Global Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) Cluster, who have been displaced seeking shelter since Israel launched a fresh, intensified military offensive two weeks ago.
Israel’s military has ordered broad evacuations alongside its stated goal of defeating Hamas. It has captured roughly 75 per cent of the Gaza Strip, and is moving civilians to an area in the south secured by Israeli forces.
Hunger is also a major concern for Gaza’s 2.1 million residents, with Israel controlling access of humanitarian food and aid into the territory amid increased airstrikes, one of which on Monday hit a school where families were sheltering, resulting in the deaths of some 30 people, including at least 18 children, according to a Gaza rescue group.
Israel’s military has defended the strike, saying it was targeting a Hamas cell that was based there planning attacks.
Due to the lack of access to humanitarian aid, extreme hunger in Gaza is reported to be widespread after a near 3-month restriction on food, medicine and other supplies, with Israel finally allowing in limited quantities due to pressure from the United States.
Israel continues to face widespread pressure from aid groups and criticism from the international community, including its Western allies, many of whom have condemned its latest military offensive and humanitarian blockade, with some even calling it a “genocide” as well as organising protests.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has denied the allegations of genocide and has accused the British, French and Canadian leaders, after their condemnation of the offensive, of “siding with Hamas”, arguing that the Israeli military’s actions are intended to secure the freedom of the 58 hostages still in captivity.
With deaths and hunger increasing and no clear solution in sight, Pope Leo during his 28 May address asked all those in positions of responsibility to “cease fire, let all the hostages be freed, let humanitarian law be fully respected!”
“Mary, Queen of Peace, pray for us!” he concluded, asking for her intercession in obtaining an end to the conflicts.
