Pope Leo XIV declared his intent to work for peace in regions troubled by conflict affecting Eastern Catholic communities.
His statement was delivered on May 14th during a special audience with Eastern Catholics at the Vatican’s Paul VI Audience Hall, marking the Jubilee of Eastern Catholic Churches.
“For my part, I will make every effort so that this peace may prevail,” Pope Leo assured the attendees, emphasizing the need for reconciliation, forgiveness and dialogue.
Participants representing the 23 Eastern Catholic Churches, many from conflict-afflicted regions such as Ukraine, Lebanon and Syria, joined the pontiff in commemorating the Jubilee.
Pope Leo echoed past papal teachings, notably Pope Leo XIII’s historic emphasis on preserving Eastern rites. Leo XIV called for renewed support for Eastern Catholic communities living in the diaspora, urging Latin-rite bishops to provide concrete assistance.
The Pope further underscored the importance of preserving Eastern liturgical traditions, describing them as vital for spiritual enrichment across the universal Church. He urged Eastern Catholics to preserve their spiritual heritage intact.
He also strongly advocated for global leaders to embrace negotiation over conflict, stating, “War is never inevitable. Weapons can and must be silenced.”
Metropolitan Archbishop Borys Gudziak of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia, present at the audience, praised Pope Leo’s dedication, saying the pontiff’s words resonated deeply with Ukrainian communities enduring “brutal genocidal aggression.”
Please pray for Pope Leo XIV and his intentions! 🙏
Photo credit: CC BY-SA 4.0, Edgar Beltrán, The Pillar via Wikimedia Commons
