Pope Leo XIV called for dialog in Ukraine and the Middle East during his visit to Angola

Pope Leo XIV, during his apostolic visit to Angola, appealed to the world community to cease fire in Ukraine and continue the path of diplomacy in the Middle East. The pontiff expressed deep regret over the escalation of conflicts and called the recent truce in Lebanon a «sign of hope» for the entire region.

According to Vatican News, speaking with the address «Regina Coeli» after the Holy Mass in the Kilamba district of Luanda, Pope Leo XIV emphasized the need for a diplomatic solution to the war in Ukraine. The pontiff noted that over the past week, civilians have been affected by large-scale strikes involving more than 700 drones, resulting in deaths in Odessa, Dnipro and Kiev. «I renew my call for the weapons to be silenced and the path of dialogue to continue,» — stressed the head of the Catholic Church.

We will remind, earlier religious leaders of Israel strongly criticized Pope Leo XIV, saying that his calls for peace and cessation of violence ignore the right of the state to self-defense. According to the rabbis, the pontiff’s rhetoric erases moral distinctions between the aggressor and the defending party, which is unacceptable in the current conflict.