Pope Leo XIV issued a heartfelt plea for peace, expressing solidarity with the Ukrainian people amid ongoing conflict.
Newsroom (25/08/2025, Gaudium Press ) On Ukraine’s Independence Day, Pope Leo XIV issued a heartfelt plea for peace, expressing solidarity with the Ukrainian people amid ongoing conflict. In a letter to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, shared by the president on X, the pope condemned the violence ravaging the nation and pledged his prayers for those suffering.
“With a heart wounded by the violence that ravages your land, I address you on this day of your national feast,” the pope wrote, marking the 34th anniversary of Ukraine’s declaration of independence from the Soviet Union on Aug. 24, 1991. “I wish to assure you of my prayer for the people of Ukraine who suffer from war — especially for all those wounded in body, for those bereaved by the death of a loved one, and for those deprived of their homes.”
The pontiff prayed for divine consolation for the Ukrainian people, asking God to “strengthen the injured and grant eternal rest to the departed.” He entrusted the nation to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace, and urged that “the clamor of arms may fall silent and give way to dialogue, opening the path to peace for the good of all.”
Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for the pope’s message, writing on X: “I am sincerely grateful to His Holiness for his thoughtful words, prayer, and attention to the people of Ukraine amid devastating war. All of our hopes and efforts are for our nation to achieve the long-awaited peace. For good, truth, and justice to prevail. We appreciate @pontifex’s moral leadership and apostolic support.”
During his Angelus address on Aug. 24 in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Leo XIV also highlighted the “Global Prayer for Ukraine” initiative, launched by the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religions. “Today we join our Ukrainian brothers and sisters who ask the Lord to grant peace to their war-torn country,” he told the gathered faithful.
The pope’s message was part of a broader outpouring of international support for Ukraine, with Zelenskyy sharing Independence Day greetings from leaders including U.S. President Donald Trump, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Chinese leader Xi Jinping, and European monarchs. The papal letter followed Pope Leo’s call on Aug. 22 for a global day of fasting and prayer for peace, coinciding with the feast of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
In July, Zelenskyy met with Pope Leo XIV at Castel Gandolfo, their second encounter since the pope’s inauguration in May. Vatican officials said the meeting focused on “the urgency of pursuing just and lasting paths of peace,” with the pope reiterating his willingness to facilitate dialogue between Russia and Ukraine.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from UCAN News and CNA
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