Pope Leo XIV Calls for End to Wars in Appeal at Sant’Egidio Peace Meeting

Rome: Pope Leo XIV on Tuesday made a heartfelt appeal for an end to wars, focusing on the human cost with their “piles of dead.” His address marked the conclusion of the Sant’Egidio international peace meeting held at the historic Colosseum.

According to Ansa News Agency, Pope Leo XIV urged for a global shift towards peace and reconciliation, emphasizing the need for an era that transcends oppression, force, and indifference to justice. “The world thirsts for peace: it needs a true and solid era of reconciliation, which puts an end to oppression, displays of force, and indifference to justice,” the Pope declared, underscoring the urgency of his message.

During the ceremony, attended by leaders of various Christian faiths, the Pope reiterated his plea for “No more wars, with their painful heaps of deaths, destruction, and exiles!” He highlighted the profound role of prayer in fostering reconciliation and criticized the misuse of religion. “Prayer is a great force for reconciliation. Those who do not pray abuse religion, even to kill,” he cautioned, stressing that genuine prayer has the power to alter the course of history.

Pope Leo XIV’s address served as a poignant reminder of the need for collective efforts to achieve lasting peace, urging global communities to unite in prayer and action against the backdrop of conflict.