Pope Leo XIV Vows to Make Every Effort for World Peace

Pope Leo XIV pledged on May 14 (local time) to make every possible effort for world peace.

Yonhap News Agency

According to the Vatican, on this day, he urged members of the Eastern Catholic Church to pray for peace at Paul VI Hall in the Vatican, stating, "I too will do everything in my power to realize peace."

He said, "The Vatican is always ready to help adversaries come face to face and engage in dialogue," adding, "Through this, I hope people around the world can regain hope and restore the dignity of peace that they rightfully deserve."

He went on to say, "War is never inevitable. Weapons can and must be silenced. Weapons do not solve problems; they only make them worse," emphasizing, "It is not those who sow the seeds of suffering, but those who build peace, who truly shape history."

Pope Leo XIV also warned against the spread of simplistic narratives that divide the world into good and evil, stating, "Our neighbors are not our enemies; above all, they are human beings just like us."

Leo XIV, who was elected as the 267th pope on May 8, succeeding Pope Francis, emphasized 'peace' as his first message. Standing on the 'balcony of blessings' at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, he greeted the faithful for the first time as pope, saying, "May peace be with you all."

During the Regina Coeli prayer on May 11, he appealed for a "truly just and lasting peace" regarding the war in Ukraine. He also called for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the release of Israeli hostages, and humanitarian aid, and welcomed the recent ceasefire between India and Pakistan.

The first foreign leader Pope Leo XIV spoke with after his inauguration was Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. President Zelensky is scheduled to attend the papal inauguration Mass at St. Peter's Square in the Vatican on May 18, and a separate meeting between the two is reportedly being arranged.