Pope Leo XIV Urges Peace in Ukraine and Sudan

During the Sunday Angelus prayer on August 9, 2026, Pope Leo XIV appealed for an end to the "vicious cycle of violence" between Russia and Ukraine. Speaking to pilgrims in St. Peter's Square, the pontiff urged both nations to cease attacks on civilian targets and adhere to international humanitarian law, noting that tragic events are multiplying and causing an increasing number of civilian victims, including children.

The appeal follows United Nations data reporting over 16,000 civilian deaths over four years of fighting, with a surge in casualties during the first half of 2026 driven by drone attacks. The call for peace coincided with active hostilities: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported a Russian attack that damaged the Odesa seaport, while a Ukrainian drone strike in Belgorod, Russia, killed five people.

Pope Leo XIV also addressed the humanitarian crisis in Sudan, specifically highlighting the city of el-Obeid. He called on authorities to guarantee humanitarian corridors for the civilian population, as a military siege involving the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces has deprived over 500,000 people of basic supplies. The Pope concluded his address by encouraging the faithful to find strength through prayer and the sacraments.