Pope Leo XIV urges dialogue, offers Holy See for peace talks

    
• Pope Leo XIV is dedicated to promoting world peace.
• The Holy See is prepared to facilitate dialogue between adversaries.
• The Pope calls for an end to violence and stresses the importance of peace.

During an audience in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV met with delegations from Eastern Churches, including those from Ukraine. Worshippers from this nation brought Ukrainian flags, highlighting their desire for peace. The Pope expressed satisfaction with the opportunity to meet with representatives of the Eastern Churches, which he described as "martyrdom."

Leo XIV emphasized that "the peace of Christ is not the grave silence after a conflict, but a gift that awakens life." The Pope called for prayers for peace, which involve reconciliation and forgiveness.

"The Holy See is available to facilitate meetings between enemies, so they may meet face to face, allowing hope and dignity, which nations deserve, to be restored," declared the leader of the Catholic Church.

The Pope noted that war is never inevitable, and weapons do not solve problems. "History will remember those who sow peace, not those who reap the harvest of death," he emphasized. Leo XIV urged the rejection of perspectives that divide the world into good and bad.

Leo XIV thanked Christians from the Middle East for their perseverance and determination to remain in their homelands despite challenges. "You are invaluable," he said, underlining the significance of their spirituality and tradition for the Church.

The Pope pointed out the risks posed by the migration of Eastern Church believers to the West, such as the loss of religious identity. "The Church needs you," he stated, emphasizing that the spirituality of the Christian East is a "remedy" for the modern world.