All articles tagged with #peace
North Korea launched several projectiles, including at least one short-range ballistic missile, from near Chongju and hitting waters off the west coast after traveling about 80 km; it was the first missile test since April. Seoul urged Pyongyang to respond to peace overtures and reaffirmed its goal of complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula through a phased, internationally coordinated approach.
Pope Leo XIV, celebrating Pentecost Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica, said the Holy Spirit guides the Church toward truth and peace through forgiveness, transforming fear into communion and urging Christians to be witnesses of mercy. In his Regina Caeli, he described the Spirit as opening three doors—to personal encounters with God, to an open, engaged Church, and to the transformed human heart—while previewing his upcoming encyclical Magnifica Humanitas on human dignity amid AI and praying for victims, peace in the Middle East, and the Church in China.
Pope Leo XIV, elected in May 2025, is steering the Vatican with a quiet, unity-first approach—preserving Francis-era continuity while promoting synodality, dialogue, and ecumenism—avoiding polarizing stances on hot-button issues and planning ongoing meetings and pilgrimages that emphasize peace, social justice, and engagement with bishops worldwide.
During Mass in Pompeii, Pope Leo XIV marks the first anniversary of his pontificate, highlights the Marian Rosary as a path to Jesus and the Eucharist, and prays that God’s mercy quell fratricidal hatred while guiding world leaders toward peace.
Pope Francis reiterates that the Church’s mission is to preach the Gospel and peace, even as Donald Trump accuses him of backing Iran having a nuclear weapon; the dispute unfolds as U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio heads to the Vatican to discuss the Middle East and bilateral ties, while Vatican officials say there is no deep rift with Washington and Italian leaders, including Meloni, weigh in on the tensions.
Diego Calderón Franco, once kidnapped by FARC for 88 days, now runs birding tours and has begun introducing former fighters to birdwatching to help them find new livelihoods after the peace deal, illustrating how Colombia’s biodiversity and ecotourism can aid healing in a country still navigating its divided past.
One year into Pope Leo XIV’s papacy, American Catholics widely praise a relatable, peace-focused leadership that challenges Trump over war rhetoric while continuing Francis’s priorities; observers say his steadier style and emphasis on immigrants, synodality, and the margins are re-energizing U.S. Catholic life, especially among youth, with an anticipated encyclical on AI signaling further direction.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Sarah Mullally, praised Pope Leo for speaking out against injustice and war after a private Vatican meeting and invited him to visit the UK, saying they were united in prayer for justice and peace. The Pope has recently warned that the world is ravaged by tyrants and has criticized the costs of war, and he pledged to continue speaking out against war and promoting peace.
In his Regina Caeli address, Pope Leo XIV says Christ is the Good Shepherd who brings abundant life, warns against “thieves” that steal joy and freedom, and urges believers to guard their hearts from harmful influences, remain focused on faith’s gifts, and entrust their journey to Mary, emphasizing trust in the Lord rather than fear.
On the return from Africa, Pope Leo urged focusing on individual human beings and a culture of peace, carrying a photo of a Lebanese Muslim boy killed in the war to symbolize the cost of conflict. He condemned unjust killings and capital punishment, argued against using violence, and stressed ongoing behind-the-scenes diplomacy with many countries, including Iran, to protect civilians and seek peaceful solutions.
Cardinal George Koovakad presents Pope Leo XIV’s Africa journey as a unified push for interreligious dialogue to build justice, social stability, and peaceful coexistence, highlighted by Algeria’s bridge-building gestures, Cameroon’s shared faith witness amid the Anglophone crisis, and messages to Angola and Equatorial Guinea; the Pope calls for rejecting violence, embracing universal fraternity, and continuing Pope Francis’s peace-oriented magisterium.
On the return flight from Africa, Pope Leo XIV says he cannot support war because innocent people die, calls for a culture of peace and continued dialogue to resolve the Iran crisis, discusses migration and human dignity, condemns capital punishment, and explains the Holy See’s diplomatic approach with various regimes to serve the Gospel without endorsing oppression.
Archbishop Andrew Nkea Fuanya says Pope Leo XIV’s Cameroonian journey was a blessing that is already bearing fruit: the pope’s messages have inspired renewed dialogue between the government and separatists, and there is growing optimism about peace. The archbishop urges turning the papal exhortations into concrete action—creating peace-focused committees, engaging in dialogue, and investing in youth—while noting early, practical signs of progress (open Bamenda airport, restored roads). He emphasizes that the true test is implementing the pope’s call for the common good and sustained peace, not just celebrating the visit.
Pope Leo XIV lands in Luanda, Angola, as part of an 11-day Africa tour focused on peace and social issues such as corruption and poverty. He will meet President João Lourenço and visit the Muxima shrine, highlighting Angola’s hopeful path after civil war despite rich oil and mineral resources. On the flight, he said it was not in his interest to debate Donald Trump about the US-Israeli war in Iran, framing his remarks within a broader message of peace.
On his Africa tour, Pope Leo XIV said he has no interest in debating Donald Trump over the Iran war and will continue preaching the Gospel of peace, stressing that his message targets global peace rather than a direct clash with the president. He argued that coverage has misread his remarks and reaffirmed his commitment to peace amid the US–Iran tension, while Vatican officials say Leo’s advocacy is for all wars, not just this conflict.