Pope Leo XIV, in his speech in the city of Metz, France, called on the warring parties in the Ukraine war to engage in compromise and seek peace through dialogue. He referred to the return of war to Europe in this speech and emphasized that to achieve peace, we must commit to patient dialogue and courage in negotiation.
Pope's Remarks on the Final Day of His Official Visit to France
On the last day of his official visit to France, Pope Leo XIV met with Emmanuel Macron, the President of the country, and participated in a grand ceremony in Paris. In this speech delivered in front of a large crowd, he addressed European issues and spoke about the importance of paying attention to migrants and welcoming them as family members.
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In his remarks, the Pope did not explicitly state what kind of compromise from Kyiv or Moscow could lead to peace. While Russian forces continue to bomb Ukraine and attempt to advance in the Donetsk region, the Kremlin's army has still not managed to bring Kyiv under control after more than four years of full-scale war.
The Pope's Active Role in Efforts to End the War
Pope Leo has played an active role in recent months in efforts to end the war in Ukraine. In August, he sent Cardinal Paul Gallagher, his equivalent of a foreign minister, to Moscow, where he met with Russian officials including Sergey Lavrov, the country's foreign minister. Additionally, another Vatican representative is set to travel to Russia this week.
These trips indicate that Pope Leo is trying to play a more active role in mediating the Ukraine war, while Europe as a whole is absent in diplomacy with Russia. However, Johan Wadephol, the German foreign minister, met with Lavrov in New York last weekend.
Pope Leo has repeatedly called for an end to Russia's aggressive war against Ukraine and expressed hope that negotiations will resume and lead to a diplomatic solution.
In his speech about Europe, the Pope also praised Robert Schuman, one of the founders of the European Union and a committed Catholic. He also advised European countries to accept migrants as members of their family, while anti-immigration parties are on the rise across Europe, including in France where Marine Le Pen's far-right party has garnered the highest votes.
In conclusion, Pope Leo emphasized: "We must understand the historical significance of what is happening, namely an unprecedented meeting between nations and cultures that invites us to return to our roots in new and creative ways, while at the same time we must listen carefully to others."
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