Pope Leo XIV on Sunday appeals for peace in Ukraine

 

The evacuation of civilian people from the city of Oleshky (ANSA)

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Pope appeals for dialogue and concrete initiatives for peace in Ukraine

Pope Leo XVI upholds a humanitarian ceasefire in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian town of Oleshky and appeals for cooperation and dialogue for peace.

Vatican News

Pope Leo XIV on Sunday appealed to those responsible for the ongoing war in Ukraine for “greater willingness to engage in dialogue and lead to new concrete initiatives for peace.”

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Civilians reach Ukraine after Oleshky evacuation backed by Pope and US First Lady

Speaking during his Angelus address in St Peter’s Square, the Pope recalled an extraordinary operation which followed diplomatic efforts and led to the evacuation of hundreds of civilians this week from the Russian-occupied Ukrainian town of Oleshky under a rare humanitarian ceasefire.

“In recent days, a humanitarian operation has been carried out to assist the civilian population in the city of Oleshky, he said, adding, “I hope that the cooperation between the parties, which made this necessary gesture of humanity possible, will foster a greater willingness to engage in dialogue and lead to new concrete initiatives for peace.

And he entrusted to the Virgin Mary, “Queen of Peace and Queen of All Saints, all those throughout the world who are suffering because of war.”

Humanitarian ceasefire

The extraordinary humanitarian operation followed diplomatic efforts involving Pope Leo XIV and U.S. First Lady Melania Trump. The American First Lady helped broker the agreement, while Pope Leo XIV personally appealed to the Russian leader to allow humanitarian assistance and civilian evacuations.

Alongside the evacuations, desperately needed food, drinking water, and medical supplies were also delivered to residents who remained in Oleshky.

The exact number evacuated has not been disclosed for security reasons, although Melania Trump indicated that more than 750 people could be evacuated.

After the Angelus Pope Leo XIV reflects on youth Olympics, the beatification of the Georgia Martyrs, World Week for the Poor and All Saints Day

 

Pope Leo XIV during the Angelus (VATICAN MEDIA)

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Pope: Youth Olympic Games a sign of hope emerging from world of sport

Pope Leo XIV sends his greetings to the participants in the Youth Olympic Games taking place in Senegal, he recalls the beatification of the Georgia Martyrs in Savannah, praises the upcoming World Week of the Poor, and asks for prayers for the dead, “especially for those whom no one remembers.”

Vatican News

Speaking during his Angelus address in St Peter’s Square on Sunday, Pope Leo XIV mentioned the Youth Olympic Games taking place in Senegal’s capital, Dakar, from 31 October to 13 November, and he expressed appreciation for the event that offers a platform for understanding and mutual respect.

The Pope told those present that the Games are for athletes aged between 15 and 18 and mark the first Olympic event to be hosted on the African continent.

“In addition to the sporting competitions, the programme includes educational and cultural activities aimed at promoting Olympic values and fostering understanding among young people from all over the world,” he said.

“Here, once again, we see a sign of hope emerging from the world of sport! I warmly greet and bless all the participants.”

Beatification of Georgia Martyrs

Pope Leo also mentioned the beatification of the Georgia Martyrs, which took place on Saturday, 31 October, in Savannah, Georgia. 

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31/10/2026

Five Franciscan missionaries beatified in Georgia

“Yesterday, in Savannah, Georgia, in the United States, Pedro de Corpa and four companions, members of the Order of Friars Minor, who were killed in hatred of the faith in 1597, were beatified,” he said.

Noting that they were originally from Spain, the Pope said, “They generously responded to the Lord’s call to evangelize the peoples of the Americas, even to the point of giving their lives,” and he invoked these martyrs' intercession for all missionaries of the Gospel.

World Week of the Poor

Pope Leo also praised the upcoming World Week of the Poor promoted by the Friars Minor from 8 to 15 November that will take place in Rome.

“I congratulate the sons of Saint Francis who, through this initiative, are placing the poor at the centre, just as the Lord Jesus did and as Saint Francis of Assisi did. I also thank the civil authorities and law enforcement agencies for their full cooperation,” he said.

Commemoration of All Souls

Finally, the Pope reminded the faithful that on Monday afternoon, 2 November, on the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed, he will celebrate Mass at Rome’s Verano Cemetery.

“During these days, let us feel united, in the communion of saints, with the vast family of brothers and sisters who have preceded us on our earthly pilgrimage. Let us pray for the dead, especially for those whom no one remembers.”

Sunday Angelus with Pope Leo XIV on All Saints Day 11.01.2026

 

Pope Leo XIV during the Angelus prayer (VATICAN MEDIA)

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Pope at Angelus: May we never grow weary of fostering peace in all situations

In his Angelus message on the Solemnity of All Saints, Pope Leo XIV recalled the countless saints who have dedicated their life to Christ and emphasized how we are all called to be holy and make choices of love that transcend evil.

By Isabella H. de Carvalho

Every faithful is called to holiness, meaning allowing love and peace in our lives to triumph over evil and greed, Pope Leo XIV said in his Angelus message on Sunday, November 1, the Solemnity of All Saints.

Holiness means, with God’s grace, bringing forth “actions and choices of love that transcend the calculations of greed and the arrogance of evil, which at times seems to prevail,” he underlined, as he spoke to the crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square from the window of the Apostolic Palace.

“May never grow weary of fostering peace, both in the most important situations and in the ordinary circumstances of everyday life.”

“Holiness is not a privilege reserved for a few,” the Pope explained, “but a universal vocation that speaks to each of us where we live.”

He emphasized that the “the hope-filled message” of this feast is that “God sees the good that we do not see, knows stories that we do not know and reaches hearts to which we have no access.”

A multitude of brothers and sisters that have spread the good

In his message, Pope Leo also recalled the “countless family of men and women who,” by following Christ, have “made their lives a gift to God and to their neighbours.”

This means not only the holy men and women that the Church has formally recognized as such, but also “the countless others” from all backgrounds, cultures and walks of life, that may not be known, he noted.

“It is impossible to count this multitude of brothers and sisters, and not just in numerical terms,” the Pope explained, as “holiness, in fact, cannot be reduced to any calculation, for such is the good that all the saints have spread around them in the world.”

Quoting then the day’s Gospel, he offered a roadmap for everyone by explaining what characterizes the saints: they are those who are “are poor in spirit, yet rich in God’s love.  Their faces are streaked with tears, yet they find consolation in prayer.  They are meek in the face of violence and rewarded by the Father.  They hunger for justice, yet are filled in the depths of their consciences.  They are ready to forgive and embraced by mercy.  They are disarmed in heart, yet protected by God.  They are peacemakers, called by name by God.  They are persecuted and insulted, yet strong in faith and charity.”