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2w ago

Pope Leo XIV Calls for Ukraine Ceasefire and Gaza Aid as Trump-Putin Summit Opens

The pontiff framed the Vatican’s moral authority as a neutral broker for inclusive diplomacy through urgent humanitarian advocacy

Pope Leo XIV delivers the Angelus prayer, in Castel Gandolfo, in the outskirts of Rome, Friday, Aug.15, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Pope Leo XIV is greeted by faithful as he arrives at the St. Thomas of Villanova Church to celebrate a mass, in Castel Gandolfo, on the outskirts of Rome, Friday, Aug.15, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Pope Leo XIV is greeted by faithful as he arrives at the St. Thomas of Villanova Church to celebrate a mass, in Castel Gandolfo, in the outskirts of Rome, Friday, Aug. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Pope Leo XIV greets faithful at the end of the Angelus prayer in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, Friday, Aug.15, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Overview

  • On Aug. 15 at Castel Gandolfo, the pope prayed for a peaceful outcome to the Trump-Putin meeting and reiterated his hope they will secure a ceasefire in Ukraine.
  • He condemned the “deafening violence” of modern wars and urged leaders to abandon armed conflict in favor of sustained dialogue.
  • The Vatican offered to host the summit in Rome but Russia declined the proposal, prompting European leaders to demand Ukraine’s direct involvement in subsequent talks.
  • He highlighted the Gaza emergency by citing UN figures showing child deaths from malnutrition and warning that hostages must be freed alongside immediate humanitarian relief.
  • These remarks build on his spring mediation initiatives, including two meetings with President Zelenskyy and a June call with President Putin, as he promotes soft diplomacy over military solutions.