Pope on wars in Ukraine and Middle East: They benefit merchants of death

Pope Leo XIV. Photo: @Vatican Media

"Violent conflict seems to be raging in the Christian East with a diabolical intensity previously unknown," said Pope Leo XIV on June 26, 2025, addressing the participants of the Plenary Assembly of the Reunion of Aid Agencies for the Oriental Churches (ROACO), reports vaticannews.

"Our hearts bleed when we think of Ukraine, the tragic and inhumane situation in Gaza and the Middle East, ravaged by the spread of war. All of us, by virtue of our humanity, are called upon to examine the causes of these conflicts, to identify those that are real and to attempt to resolve them. But also to reject those that are false, the result of emotional manipulation and rhetoric, and to make every effort to bring them to light. People must not die because of fake news!" said Pope Leo.

In his conviction,"People are beginning to realize the amount of money that ends up in the pockets of merchants of death." The head of the RCC noted that with these funds, hospitals and schools could be built, but instead, those already built are being destroyed.

In this situation, the pontiff believes, Christians are primarily called to pray and remain faithful to Jesus Christ, not falling into the tentacles of power. "I would like to thank and spiritually embrace all those Eastern Christians who respond to evil with good," he added.

As reported by teh UOJ, earlier the Pope called to support "any initiative towards dialogue and peace" in Ukraine.

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