Castel Gandolfo, Italy: In a rare and impassioned address to journalists upon his arrival at the historic Villa Barberini in Castel Gandolfo, Pope Leo XIV urged the world’s leaders to take immediate steps to halt the war in Ukraine, bring an end to the deepening hunger crisis in Gaza, and secure the release of Israeli hostages held there. The Pontiff’s remarks reflect the Holy See’s continued commitment to “soft diplomacy,” a strategy rooted in dialogue, humanitarian engagement, and moral persuasion rather than military confrontation.
Standing at the gates of his summer residence, warmly greeting the crowds that had gathered to welcome him, Pope Leo spoke candidly about the futility of war and the moral imperative to seek peace. “We must always seek a ceasefire,” he said, when asked about the upcoming 15 August summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. “The violence, the many deaths, must stop. Let’s see how they can come to an agreement. After all this time, what is the purpose of war? We must always seek dialogue, diplomatic efforts not violence, not weapons.”
When questioned about the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza, Pope Leo’s tone grew more somber. “Very much concerned,” he admitted, warning of the devastating consequences of forced deportations and mass hunger. “The humanitarian crisis must be resolved. We cannot go on like this. We know the violence of terrorism, and we honor the many who have died, as well as the hostages they must be freed. But we must also think of the many who are dying of hunger.”
The Pontiff emphasized that while the Holy See does not wield the power to end wars directly, it remains steadfast in advocating nonviolent solutions through persistent diplomatic engagement. “The Holy See cannot stop them… but we are working on ‘soft diplomacy,’ always inviting, encouraging the pursuit of nonviolence through dialogue and seeking solutions because these problems cannot be solved by war.”
Earlier in the day, during his weekly General Audience at the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall, Pope Leo drew inspiration from Saint Maximilian Maria Kolbe the Polish Franciscan who sacrificed his life at Auschwitz to save another calling on the faithful to pray for an end to all conflicts. “Plead with God to grant peace to all peoples who are experiencing the tragedy of war,” he urged, specifically remembering those living under the shadow of violence.
Pope Leo’s stay in Castel Gandolfo, lasting until August 19, will include significant public events. On August 15, the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, he will celebrate Mass at the Parish of Saint Thomas of Villanova at 10:00 a.m., followed by the Angelus prayer from the Apostolic Palace’s entrance. On August 17, the Pope will celebrate Mass at the shrine of Santa Maria della Rotonda in Albano Laziale alongside the poor served by the diocesan Caritas. Later, he will share a communal lunch with those in need at the Borgo Laudato Si’ within the Pontifical Villas a living testament to his call for peace and compassion in times of global crisis.