On a Sunday filled with geopolitical and humanitarian messages, Pope Leo XIV used the Angelus prayer to issue a stern warning about armed conflicts, express his concern over the escalation between Washington and Havana, and pray for world peace on the eve of the Olympic Games in Italy. According to the Argentine News Agency, the first American Pope in history addressed thousands of faithful in St. Peter's Square with a speech that ranged from the morality of war to the diplomatic crisis in the American continent. Civilian Victims: 'They violate morality and law.' In the context of the 'National Day in Memory of Civilian Victims of Wars and Conflicts in the World' celebrated in Italy, the Pontiff was firm in stating that attacks against the non-combatant population 'openly violate morality and law.' Leo XIV described this reality as an 'intolerable injustice' and stated: 'The dead and wounded of yesterday and today will be truly honored when this intolerable injustice is brought to an end.' USA-Cuba Tension: a call for dialogue. The Pope expressed his 'great concern' over the 'increase in tensions between Cuba and the United States,' after the Donald Trump administration multiplied threats against the island following the capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Amid Trump's warning that 'there will be no more oil or money for Cuba,' the Holy Father invited political leaders to promote a 'sincere and effective dialogue' to avoid violence and suffering for the Cuban people. Olympic Games and Truce. Just days before the opening of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, which will begin next Friday, the Pope urged respect for the 'Olympic truce.' 'These major sporting events are a strong message of fraternity and revive the hope for a world at peace,' noted Leo XIV, asking for 'concrete gestures of de-escalation and dialogue' from those in positions of authority. Prayers for natural disasters. Finally, the Pontiff dedicated his prayers to the victims of recent natural disasters: the landslide in a mine in North Kivu (Democratic Republic of the Congo); the storms that hit Portugal and southern Italy; the severe floods in Mozambique, which have left hundreds of thousands displaced.
