Pope Leo XIV calls for end to Ukraine-Russia war and civilian attacks FAST-MOVING

Pope Leo XIV Ukraine-Russia war civilian casualties Sudan humanitarian crisis Angelus prayer

During his Sunday Angelus prayer in Vatican City, Pope Leo XIV issued a plea for an end to the violence in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The Pontiff emphasized the need for diplomacy and dialogue to break the "spiral of violence," specifically urging both sides to respect international humanitarian law and cease all attacks against civilian targets, including children.

Recent reports corroborate the rising toll of the conflict. According to the United Nations, more than 16,000 civilians have been killed in nearly 4.5 years of fighting, with the majority being Ukrainian. Additionally, the UN human rights office noted that civilian deaths and injuries in Ukraine increased by more than a third in the first half of the year, largely due to drone strikes.

Specific recent incidents were reported, including a Ukrainian drone attack on the Russian city of Belgorod that killed five people, and a Russian attack on the Odesa seaport in Ukraine that wounded eight people.

Beyond Europe, Pope Leo XIV expressed deep concern for the humanitarian crisis in Sudan, particularly in the city of El Obeid. He called upon authorities to guarantee humanitarian corridors for civilians and urged the international community to support efforts for an immediate ceasefire.

Entities: Pope Leo XIV · Russia · Sudan · Ukraine · United Nations · Vatican City · Volodymyr Zelenskiy

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 18 SOURCES] Pope Leo XIV called for an end to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. (Pope Leo XIV)
[● 18 SOURCES] The Pope urged both sides to stop attacks on civilian targets. (Pope Leo XIV)
[● 6 SOURCES] More than 16,000 civilians have been killed during nearly 4.5 years of fighting in Ukraine and Russia. (United Nations)
[● 6 SOURCES] Civilian injuries and deaths in Ukraine increased by more than a third in the first half of the year due to drone attacks. (United Nations Human Rights Office)
[● 12 SOURCES] The Pope expressed concern regarding the situation in El Obeid, Sudan, and called for humanitarian aid. (Pope Leo XIV)
[● 7 SOURCES] Five people died in a Ukrainian drone attack on the Russian city of Belgorod. (Regional crisis centre)
[● 6 SOURCES] A Russian attack caused damage to the Odesa seaport, wounding eight people. (President Volodymyr Zelenskiy)