Pope Leo XVI spoke on Friday with the presidents of Israel and Ukraine, emphasizing the urgent need for peace and addressing the humanitarian crises caused by ongoing wars.
The American-born pontiff held separate telephone conversations with Israel’s Isaac Herzog and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky, discussing conditions in each conflict zone, the Vatican said.
In his discussion with Herzog, the Pope “reaffirmed the need to reopen all possible channels of diplomatic dialogue to end the serious ongoing conflict and achieve a just and lasting peace throughout the Middle East,” according to a Vatican statement. The leaders also stressed the protection of civilians and adherence to international and humanitarian law.
Herzog’s office noted that the conversation included greetings for both Passover and Easter, followed by discussions on the Iran war, including missile threats from Tehran and its regional proxies, and the safety of Christian communities along the Lebanon-Israel border.
During his call with Zelensky, Pope Leo conveyed his best wishes for Easter, and both leaders addressed the urgent need for humanitarian assistance for Ukrainians affected by the war. The Vatican added that the talks also highlighted efforts to promote humanitarian initiatives, particularly regarding prisoner releases.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, the Vatican has played a discreet mediating role, facilitating dialogue for prisoner exchanges and humanitarian relief. Zelensky reported on social media that Russian attacks continued while the call was ongoing, underscoring the urgency of the proposed Easter ceasefire.
“The pope and Zelensky expressed hope that, with international cooperation, hostilities may cease soon and a just and lasting peace may be achieved,” the Vatican said.
Earlier this year, Pope Leo described peace in Ukraine as “an urgent necessity” and called on global leaders to resume dialogue to resolve conflicts in the Middle East, urging efforts toward diplomatic solutions.
