Archive · 29 Sep 2026
Pope Leo Urges Russia and Ukraine to Pursue Peace Talks
Pope Leo asked Russia and Ukraine to talk about ending their war.
He said discussions could help find peaceful solutions.
He believes the Catholic Church should speak up for peace and human life.
He also worried that some leaders are talking about nuclear weapons.
Nuclear weapons can make wars much more destructive.
The pope said countries should try to spend more on health and education and less on weapons.
Earlier, he told European leaders that achieving peace may require giving up some positions.
His message was that talking is better than continuing a war that he said no longer makes sense.
Pope Leo urged Russia and Ukraine to sit down and discuss ending their four-year war.
He said the Catholic Church has a responsibility to promote peace and respect for human life.
Leo criticized leaders discussing nuclear weapons and increasingly destructive wars.
He called for dialogue and solutions that avoid continuing wars he said no longer make sense.
Earlier in Metz, France, Leo said Europe may need to make concessions to achieve peace.
- Who
- Pope Leo urged leaders from Russia and Ukraine to pursue dialogue.
- What
- He called for talks to end the four-year Russia-Ukraine war and criticized discussion of nuclear weapons.
- When
- Monday, September 28, during a press conference aboard the papal flight to Rome.
- Where
- The comments were made aboard the flight to Rome after Pope Leo’s four-day trip to France; earlier, he spoke in Metz, France.
- Why
- He said the Catholic Church has a responsibility to promote peace, human dignity, and respect for life.
- Speaker
- Pope Leo
- Conflict
- The four-year war between Russia and Ukraine
- Main appeal
- Russia and Ukraine should sit down and engage in dialogue
- Church membership
- The Catholic Church has 1.4 billion members, according to the report
- Additional concern
- Leo criticized leaders discussing nuclear weapons and increasingly destructive wars
- European message
- Europe may need to make concessions or sacrifice some positions to achieve peace
- Suggested priority
- More spending on health and education and less on weapons
