Pope Leo XIV called on the faithful to pray unceasingly for peace in the Holy Land, Ukraine, and all regions scarred by conflict
Newsroom (08/09/2025, Gaudium Press )In a heartfelt address before leading the Angelus prayer in Saint Peter’s Square, Pope Leo XIV called on the faithful to pray unceasingly for peace in the Holy Land, Ukraine, and all regions scarred by conflict. “God does not want war. God wants peace!” the pontiff declared, emphasizing the divine call for harmony amid global strife.
Speaking after the canonization Mass for Pier Giorgio Frassati and Carlo Acutis, Pope Leo invoked the intercession of the newly canonized saints and the Virgin Mary, urging the world to entrust their prayers for peace. “The apparent victories achieved through weapons, sowing death and destruction, are in fact defeats,” he said, addressing world leaders. “They never bring peace or security.” He renewed his plea for leaders to heed their consciences and pursue dialogue to break “the spiral of hatred.”
The Pope’s message resonated with the over 80,000 pilgrims gathered in Saint Peter’s Square for the canonization, a long-awaited celebration that drew bishops, priests, official delegations, and faithful from across the globe. Pope Leo expressed gratitude for their participation, extending warm greetings to all present.
Two New Blesseds Enrich the Church
In addition to the canonizations, Pope Leo highlighted the beatification of two figures in Estonia and Hungary, whose witness strengthens the Church’s legacy of faith and resilience.
On Saturday, September 6, Jesuit Archbishop Eduard Profittlich was beatified in Tallinn, Estonia. Profittlich, martyred in 1942 during the Soviet regime’s persecution of the Church, was remembered for his steadfast courage.
In Veszprém, Hungary, Mária Magdolna Bódi, a young laywoman, was also beatified on Saturday. Bódi was killed incommunity 1945 for resisting soldiers’ attempts to assault her, standing as a testament to purity and bravery.
“The Church is enriched by the witness of these two new blesseds,” Pope Leo said, celebrating their contributions to the faith.
A Call to Action for Peace
Pope Leo’s appeal underscored the urgency of prayer and dialogue in a world grappling with conflict. His words served as both a spiritual exhortation and a challenge to global leaders to prioritize peace over violence. As the faithful departed Saint Peter’s Square, the Pope’s message lingered: a reminder that true victory lies not in war, but in the pursuit of reconciliation and unity.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
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