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- Pope Leo warned against the rise of simplistic narratives that divide the world into good and evil
- 鈥淥ur neighbors are not first our enemies, but fellow human beings,鈥� he said
VATICAN CITY: Pope Leo XIV, the first American to head the global Catholic Church, pledged on Wednesday to make 鈥渆very effort鈥� for peace and offered the Vatican as a mediator in global conflicts, saying war was 鈥渘ever inevitable.鈥�
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who spoke to the Pope soon after his election, welcomed the Pontiff鈥檚 offer and repeated that Kyiv backed all efforts to end his country鈥檚 war with Russia.
Leo, elected last week to succeed the late Pope Francis, has already made repeated calls for peace. His first words to crowds in St. Peter鈥檚 Square were 鈥淧eace be with all of you.鈥�
He returned to the issue while addressing members of the Eastern Catholic Churches, some of which are based in conflict-ridden places such as Ukraine, Syria, Lebanon and Iraq and often face persecution as religious minorities.
鈥淭he Holy See is always ready to help bring enemies together, face-to-face, to talk to one another, so that peoples everywhere may once more find hope and recover the dignity they deserve, the dignity of peace,鈥� Leo said.
鈥淲ar is never inevitable. Weapons can and must be silenced, for they do not resolve problems but only increase them. Those who make history are the peacemakers, not those who sow seeds of suffering,鈥� he added.
Pope Leo warned against the rise of simplistic narratives that divide the world into good and evil. 鈥淥ur neighbors are not first our enemies, but fellow human beings,鈥� he said.
On Sunday, the pontiff called for an 鈥渁uthentic and lasting peace鈥� in Ukraine; a ceasefire in Gaza and release of all Israeli hostages held by militant group Hamas; and he also welcomed the fragile ceasefire between India and Pakistan.
Zelensky, writing in English on the X social media platform, said he was grateful to Pope Leo 鈥渇or his wise words about the Holy See鈥檚 willingness to play a mediatory role in restoring global peace.鈥�
鈥淲e appreciate the Pontiff鈥檚 insightful statement and reiterate our commitment to advancing meaningful peace efforts, including a full ceasefire and a personal highest-level meeting with Russia.鈥�
Later, in his nightly video address, Zelensky said: 鈥淭he Vatican can help diplomacy. There is support for a direct meeting from leaders of the Global South. And this voice is being heard.鈥�
First leader to speak to new pope
Leo spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday in his first known conversation with a foreign leader as pope. He offered to facilitate peace talks as world leaders come to his inauguration mass, the Ukrainian leader said.
Zelensky hopes to be present for the event in St. Peter鈥檚 Square on May 18 and is ready to hold meetings on the sidelines, the Ukrainian leader鈥檚 chief of staff Andriy Yermak told Reuters on Tuesday.