Pope Leo XIV Urges Peace as Russia Strikes Kyiv
Pope Leo XIV called for dialogue between Russia and Ukraine while Russian strikes on Kyiv killed one person and injured six.
Russian forces launched strikes on Kyiv on September 29, 2026, including a direct hit on the National Academy of Sciences building. The attack killed one person and injured six others, including three children.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, condemned the strikes as acts of terror. He urged global partners to increase pressure on the financing and production of Russian weapons, stating that casualties could have been prevented if pressure on Russia had become total.
In a separate development, Pope Leo XIV called on the leaders of Russia and Ukraine to engage in dialogue to resolve their differences. Speaking during a flight from France to Rome, the Pope described the conflict as a war that "no longer make sense" and criticized the military industry for generating immense wealth for a few while billions could address world hunger and unemployment.
These events follow comments from U.S. President Donald Trump on September 26, who stated he wants both nations to "settle" the war after a bilateral meeting with Zelenskyy.
