Pope Leo XIV has called on the global community not to resign itself to violence and destruction. Addressing the faithful after the Angelus prayer in St. Peter's Square, he expressed solidarity with the victims in Ukraine, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Peru, and other countries. The Pope recalled that wars and terrorist attacks spare neither children nor civilian infrastructure, leaving families homeless as the cold sets in. He emphasized that God is a merciful Father and desires peace among all His children. In his appeal, the Pope asked people to pray for an end to all violence and for believers to work together for the common good.
He specifically mentioned the situation in Ukraine, where attacks continue, and in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where at least 20 people were killed in a terrorist attack in North Kivu. The Pope also expressed condolences over a serious traffic accident in southern Peru, near Ocona, where a bus fell into a ravine, killing 37 people and injuring 13. Additionally, the Pope highlighted the persecution of Christians in Bangladesh, Nigeria, Mozambique, and Sudan.
