Pope Leo XIV said Wednesday that the
Holy See was ready to mediate between "enemies" to end the
world's wars during an audience in the Vatican's Paul VI Hall
for the Jubilee of Eastern Catholic Churches.
"I will make every effort for peace to spread," the American
pontiff said.
"The Holy See is at disposal so that enemies can meet and look
each other in the eye, so that the peoples everywhere can be
given back the hope and dignity they deserve, the dignity of
peace.
"The peoples want peace and I, with my heart on my hand, say to
the leaders: let's meet, let's dialogue, let's negotiate.
"War is never inevitable, weapons can, and must, be silent,
because they do not solve problems, they increase them; because
he who sows peace will go down in history, not he who reaps
victims; because others are not all enemies, but human beings:
not villains to be hated, but people to talk to.
"Let us reject the Manichean visions of violent narratives,
which divide the world into good and bad".
Leo referred to Pope Francis's description of eastern Catholic
communities as "martyr Churches" and lamented the violence that
continues to plague regions including the Holy Land, Ukraine,
the Middle East, Tigray, and the Caucasus.
"How much violence!" he said.
"Rising up from this horror, from the slaughter of so many young
people, which ought to provoke outrage because lives are being
sacrificed in the name of military conquest, there resounds an
appeal for peace - not so much of the pope, but of Christ
Himself, who repeats, 'Peace be with you!'
"Let us pray for this peace, which is reconciliation,
forgiveness, and the courage to turn the page and start anew".
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
