Pope Leo issued a call for peace to the world
This was reported by Reuters. The statement came the day after the Pope’s talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the Vatican.
A call for peace and an end to hatred
During a visit to Pompeii, situated near the archaeological site of the ancient city destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, the Pope addressed thousands of worshippers gathered in the main square. In his address, the Pontiff called for prayers for peace and for those responsible for political decisions around the world.
“I join you in your prayers that God may touch hearts, calm malice and fratricidal hatred, and enlighten those who bear special responsibility in governments,” said Pope Leo.
He also emphasised that the international situation remains extremely tense, and that the modern world is becoming increasingly accustomed to violence and war.
The Pope expressed concern over wars
The Pontiff stated that today peace is under threat not only because of military conflicts, but also because of an economic system which, in his words, “favours the arms trade over respect for human life”. Separately, Leo urged people not to treat war as something routine.
“We cannot become accustomed to the images of death that the news shows us every day,” he said during his speech.
According to the pontiff, world leaders must seek paths to dialogue, rather than further escalation of conflicts.
Talks with Rubio and tensions with Washington
Reuters notes that the Pope’s speech took place after his meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the Vatican. The talks took place against the backdrop of strained relations between the Holy See and the administration of US President Donald Trump. The agency recalls that Trump had previously made critical remarks about the pontiff on social media on several occasions following his comments regarding the war in Iran. After the meeting, the Vatican stated that the parties had agreed to work towards improving bilateral relations. According to Reuters’ sources, such a statement was rather unusual, as it effectively confirmed the existence of tension between the parties. The US Embassy to the Holy See reported that during the talks, Lev and Rubio discussed issues of mutual interest to the countries of the Western Hemisphere.
The Pope’s stance on refugees from Gaza
Later on Friday, Pope Leo visited Naples — Italy’s third-largest city. There, he specifically commended the work of local organisations assisting refugees from the Gaza Strip. The Pontiff thanked the volunteers and called on the city’s residents to continue supporting a “culture of peace”, as well as to resist “the logic of confrontation and the use of force as a means of resolving conflicts”.
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