POPE LEO OFFERS TO HELP MAKE PEACE IN WARRING COUNTRIES

POPE LEO OFFERS TO HELP MAKE PEACE IN WARRING COUNTRIES

Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday said he is ready to help leaders of warring countries talk and make peace. “I will make every effort so that this peace may prevail,” he promised.

The new pope, who became leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics last week, also asked Christians in the Middle East not to leave their homes.

He was speaking to members of the Eastern Catholic Churches at the Vatican.

“Who, better than you, can sing a song of hope even amid the abyss of violence?” he asked. He mentioned violent conflicts in places like the Holy Land, Ukraine, Lebanon, Syria, Tigray, and the Caucasus.

He urged people to pray for peace.

“The Holy See is always ready to help bring enemies together, face to face,” he said. “The people of our world desire peace, and to their leaders I appeal with all my heart: Let us meet, let us talk, let us negotiate!”

Pope Leo became pontiff after Pope Francis died on April 21 at age 88.

He spoke during a planned event for the upcoming 2025 Jubilee holy year, which focuses on the 23 Eastern Catholic Churches across Eastern Europe, the Middle East, India, and parts of Africa.

Pope Leo thanked those working for peace and praised Christians who stay in their troubled homelands.

“Christians must be given the opportunity, and not just in words, to remain in their native lands with all the rights needed for a secure existence. Please, let us strive for this!” he said.