In his words after the Angelus prayer, pronounced from his study in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, before thousands of faithful and pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square, the pontiff urged to “negotiate a future of peace for all peoples and to reject everything that could endanger it”.

Leo XIV spoke of the world’s growing conflicts and cited the clashes on the Thai-Cambodian border, as well as the worsening violence in southern Syria.

The Bishop of Rome assured that he follows with great concern the grave humanitarian situation in Gaza, “where the civilian population is overwhelmed by hunger and continues to be exposed to violence and death.”

“I renew my fervent appeal for a cease-fire, the release of the hostages and full respect for humanitarian law,” he said, reaffirming the Vatican’s position in favor of moving forward through diplomatic efforts to put an end to Tel Aviv’s aggression.

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