World peace endangered by international tensions, says Pope Leo

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Pope Leo has called on global leaders to seek divine guidance in reducing tensions and ending cycles of hatred, saying God should “touch hearts, calm rancour and fratricidal hatreds, and enlighten those who have special responsibilities of government.”

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According to Reuters, the appeal came on Friday during a visit to Pompei, a modern city south of Rome near the ruins of the ancient volcanic eruption site, as the pontiff marked the first anniversary of his leadership of the Roman Catholic Church.

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His message followed a meeting on Thursday at the Vatican with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a visit that took place amid reported tensions between the Holy See and Washington.

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The Vatican said after the talks that both sides had agreed to work towards improving bilateral relations, with officials describing the exchange as unusually frank given what insiders have called strained ties. The U.S. embassy to the Holy See later said on X that discussions focused on “topics of mutual interest in the Western Hemisphere.”

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Leo, the first U.S.-born pope and former Cardinal Robert Prevost, was elected on May 8, 2025, to succeed Pope Francis as leader of the Church’s 1.4 billion members. He spent decades as a missionary and bishop in Peru before his election.

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In recent months, he has become increasingly vocal on global conflict, including criticism of the Iran war, which has drawn sharp reactions from U.S. President Donald Trump.

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Addressing thousands gathered in Pompei’s main square, Leo said he would join prayers that God would guide those in positions of power.

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“God would begin touching hearts, calming rancour and fratricidal hatreds, and enlightening those who have special responsibilities of government,” he said.

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He also warned that global peace was under growing strain.

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“World peace is endangered by international tensions and by an economy that prefers the arms trade to respect for human life,” he said.

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The pope urged people not to become desensitised to conflict.

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“We cannot resign ourselves to the images of death that the news shows us every day,” he said.

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