VATICAN CITY: Pope Leo XIV has offered to serve as a mediator in global conflicts, urging world leaders to unite and engage in dialogue to end ongoing wars. “I will do everything in my power to help peace prevail,” the pontiff declared on Wednesday.
Speaking just a week after being named the spiritual leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics, the newly elected American pope addressed members of the Eastern Catholic Churches during a special gathering at the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall.
In an emotional appeal, Pope Leo encouraged Christians across the Middle East not to abandon their homes despite the hardships they face. “Who better than you can sing a song of hope even in the depths of violence?” he asked, referencing conflict zones such as the Holy Land, Ukraine, Lebanon, Syria, Tigray, and the Caucasus.
The pontiff emphasized the Vatican’s readiness to facilitate peace talks between warring nations. “The Holy See is always available to bring enemies face to face, to open a path for dialogue, so that people everywhere can rediscover hope and the dignity that peace brings,” he said.
Addressing political leaders around the world, Pope Leo made a heartfelt plea: “Let us meet, let us talk, let us negotiate.”
The speech was delivered at a pre-planned event tied to preparations for the 2025 Jubilee, which honors the 23 Eastern Catholic Churches spread across Eastern Europe, the Middle East, India, and parts of Africa.
In keeping with the consistent peace-oriented message of his papacy so far, Pope Leo expressed gratitude for those working to promote reconciliation. “I thank God for the Christians—Eastern and Latin alike—who continue to stay in their native lands, especially in the Middle East, resisting the urge to flee.”
He concluded with a call for concrete support for those communities: “Christians must be given the real opportunity—not just promises—to remain in their homelands with the rights necessary for a safe and dignified life. Let us work to make this a reality.”
