RismadarVoice Reporters
September 28, 2026
Pope Leo XIV has called on negotiators seeking to end the war in Ukraine to show courage and be prepared to give up some positions in pursuit of a broader peace agreement.
The pontiff made the remarks on Monday while addressing European leaders in Metz, France, during the final day of his four-day visit to the country.
Speaking about the continuing conflict in Europe, Pope Leo lamented the return of large-scale war to the continent and the continuing loss of civilian lives.
He urged those involved in peace negotiations to demonstrate greater willingness to compromise, saying there was a need for courage in negotiations and readiness to sacrifice certain positions for what he described as the greater good of peace.
The Pope did not directly name Ukraine in that section of his address, but his remarks came against the backdrop of continuing efforts to find a negotiated settlement to the war that began with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Pope Leo also warned European governments against relying primarily on increased military spending as a response to insecurity.
He argued that Europe should examine whether sufficient diplomatic and other peaceful efforts were being made to prevent further conflicts, while cautioning against what he described as the illusion that rearmament alone could provide an answer.
The pontiff also called on European countries to uphold principles including the rule of law, equality and respect for human dignity.
His comments came as diplomatic efforts to secure an end to the Russia-Ukraine war remain unresolved, with fundamental disagreements between Moscow and Kyiv continuing to complicate negotiations.
