In a powerful statement, Pope Leo XIV condemned the continued conflict in Ukraine, labeling it a pandemic of weapons and urging an immediate ceasefire to protect civilians and halt the suffering.
Pope Leo XIV delivered a moving address at the Vatican on Monday. He condemned the ongoing war in Ukraine and described it as a pandemic of weapons that has left civilians in dire need of mercy. The Pope called on all parties to end the violence and start steps toward a lasting peace.
Behind his appeal lies a grim reality. On 22 August 2025, the Russian Armed Forces launched an airstrike using 574 drones over Ukraine, causing damage to key infrastructures and injuring 14 civilians in Sumy. The attack was part of a broader campaign that has intensified over months.
European leaders responded with urgency. On 21 August 2025, 32 defense chiefs from NATO member states met to discuss support for Ukraine. Poland and Hungary voiced a strong preference for sending military contingents, whereas Spain, Italy and France offered logistic and humanitarian aid. Germany reaffirmed its stance of no direct military intervention while continuing to provide economic and technological assistance.
US President Donald Trump denied sending ground troops to Ukraine, stating that the United States would limit its support to air operations. In the same week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky postponed the scheduled summit with Russian leader Vladimir Putin unless additional guarantees of protection were offered by the U.S. executive.
The Pope’s message echoes a growing global demand for an end to hostilities. While the situation remains fluid, his call for a ceasefire resonates with thousands of people worldwide who are calling for an immediate halt to the loss of life and the destruction of communities in eastern Ukraine.