Pope Leo calls for divine guidance to ease global tensions and end hatred
via Punch Nigeria2 min read
Pope Leo, marking his first anniversary as head of the Roman Catholic Church, appealed to global leaders to seek divine guidance in reducing tensions and ending cycles of hatred. Speaking in Pompei, he urged God to "touch hearts, calm rancour and fratricidal hatreds, and enlighten those who have special responsibilities of government." This appeal followed a meeting at the Vatican with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, amidst reported tensions between the Holy See and Washington. The Vatican stated that both sides agreed to work towards improving bilateral relations, with officials describing the exchange as unusually frank. The U.S. embassy to the Holy See noted discussions focused on "topics of mutual interest in the Western Hemisphere." Pope Leo, the first U.S.-born pope and former Cardinal Robert Prevost, was elected on May 8, 2025. He has become increasingly vocal on global conflict, including criticism of the Iran war, which has drawn sharp reactions from U.S. President Donald Trump. He warned that "world peace is endangered by international tensions and by an economy that prefers the arms trade to respect for human life," and urged people not to become desensitised to conflict.
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