Promote paths of dialogue, pray for paths of dialogue: Pope Leo welcomes Iran news but urges renewed prayer for Ukraine.
At the end of the general audience of June 17, Pope Leo noted encouraging news from the Middle East couple with distressing news from Ukraine.
The Pope said:
I welcome with satisfaction the agreement reached between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America, which is to be signed on Friday, as an encouraging outcome of patient dialogue and negotiation. I express my gratitude to the countries that have worked to facilitate the meeting between the parties and make this agreement possible. I hope that this agreement may help to strengthen mutual trust, security, and stability in the Middle East, by promoting paths of dialogue and cooperation among peoples.
Meanwhile, distressing news continues to emerge regarding the war in Ukraine, which continues to escalate: so many innocent victims, aid workers killed, churches and cultural heritage sites devastated by fire. My thoughts are with those who are mourning their loved ones, with the injured, and with those who, amidst the violence, continue to serve life with courage. I invite everyone to pray for an end to this war. Let us ask the Lord to open pathways to dialogue, to extinguish hatred, and to make a just and lasting peace possible.
On Tuesday as he left Castel Gandolfo, the Holy Father also spoke about the Iran situation, noting the points that are still left to resolve.
In Ukraine this week, the 11th-century Cathedral of the Dormition was hit by strikes and damaged in the resulting fires, though Russia denied hitting the site.
