Pope Francis renews call for peace in Ukraine and Russia, urges diplomacy

Pope Francis has once again appealed for an end to the violence in Ukraine and Russia, stating that the "spiral of violence yields no results." He urged for diplomacy and dialogue to pave the way for peace.

The Holy See is actively engaging in peace efforts. Following a July mission to Ukraine by the Vatican's 'foreign minister,' Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, and the Pope's special envoy, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, a new mission to Moscow is being prepared. Gallagher will handle political aspects, while Zuppi will focus on humanitarian issues.

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The spiral of violence yields no results. It is time to stop the spiral of violence and give space to diplomacy and dialogue to open the way to peace.

During his Angelus address, the Pope placed the suffering of "innocent" victims on both fronts on equal footing. This signals the Pope's urgency for a resolution to the conflict, which has persisted for four and a half years with no clear end in sight. He lamented the "painful news of innocent people killed and wounded in Ukraine and Russia," noting the "tragic episodes" that continue to multiply, causing civilian casualties, including children.

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Painful news of innocent people killed and wounded in Ukraine and Russia. Tragic episodes continue to multiply, causing civilian casualties, including children.

"I am close to the families of the victims, the injured, and all who suffer because of the ongoing conflict," Pope Francis said. "Faced with so much pain, I renew an heartfelt appeal to respect humanitarian law and for attacks involving civilian targets to cease on both sides."

The Pontiff reiterated that "war only generates more war and causes immense suffering." He stressed that "it is time to stop the spiral of violence and give space to diplomacy and dialogue to open the way to peace." In this spirit of dialogue, Archbishop Gallagher is scheduled to visit Moscow later this month to meet with Russian authorities, marking the first such visit since the war began. The Vatican has not officially announced this mission, but it has been confirmed by the Russian embassy to the Holy See. Cardinal Zuppi has previously visited Moscow in 2023 and 2024 as Pope Francis's envoy. He also visited detention camps in Ukraine in mid-July, where Russian soldiers captured in combat are held. Sources close to the cardinal indicate his desire to visit detention camps in Russia, starting with the occupied Donetsk region. The program for this potential September visit has not yet been finalized.

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I am close to the families of the victims, the injured, and all who suffer because of the ongoing conflict. Faced with so much pain, I renew an heartfelt appeal to respect humanitarian law and for attacks involving civilian targets to cease on both sides.