Pope Leo has called on Russia and Ukraine to return to the negotiating table and discuss ways to end their four-year war, saying dialogue remains necessary to find a path towards peace.
Speaking to reporters aboard his flight back to Rome on Monday after a four-day visit to France, the first US-born pope also expressed concern over world leaders increasingly discussing nuclear weapons and increasingly destructive wars.
Leo said the Catholic Church has a responsibility to advocate for peace and protect human life, urging leaders from both Russia and Ukraine to engage in direct dialogue.
“The Church has a responsibility to promote these values, continually inviting leaders — from Russia and Ukraine, as well as other countries — to come together, sit down, engage in dialogue,” he said.
He said leaders should seek ways to resolve disputes without allowing conflicts to continue indefinitely.
“This is not about being political or nonpolitical, but there needs to be a voice that seeks to promote the values of human dignity, the importance of life, and the possibility of perhaps spending more on health and education and less on weapons,” Leo said.
Earlier on Monday, during a speech in Metz, France, Leo urged European leaders to be prepared to make concessions and give up some positions in pursuit of peace.
He presented the willingness to compromise as an important part of Europe’s efforts to address conflicts and build a more peaceful future for the continent.
The pope’s comments came as the Russia-Ukraine war enters its fourth year, with diplomatic efforts continuing amid ongoing fighting.
