Overview

• Pope Leo XIV used his Aug. 24 Angelus to join a global prayer initiative for Ukraine and asked God to grant the country peace.
• In a letter posted by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the pope pledged ongoing prayers for Ukrainians suffering from war and invoked the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace.
• Zelenskyy thanked the pope on X for his words and support, calling for a just peace for Ukraine.
• The pope noted he had called for a day of fasting and prayer on Aug. 22 to seek an end to wars worldwide, including in Ukraine.
• As Ukraine marked Independence Day, Russia reported a transformer fire at a Kursk nuclear plant after alleged drone strikes, with the IAEA aware of reports but lacking independent confirmation and local officials reporting no injuries or radiation increase.