Speaking during his Sunday Angelus prayer on March 22, the pontiff urged global leaders and citizens to prioritise peace through dialogue and respect for human dignity.
By Joe Udo
VATICAN (CONVERSEER) – Pope Leo XIV has called for an immediate end to hostilities in the Middle East, warning that the ongoing conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran is inflicting severe humanitarian suffering.
Speaking during his Sunday Angelus prayer on March 22, the pontiff urged global leaders and citizens to prioritise peace through dialogue and respect for human dignity.
“Persevere in prayer, so that hostilities may cease and paths of peace may finally open up, based on sincere dialogue and respect for the dignity of every human person,” he said.
The pope noted that he continues to follow developments in the region “with dismay,” describing the Middle East as part of a wider global landscape increasingly torn apart by war and violence.
He condemned the human toll of the conflict, stressing that innocent civilians remain the primary victims.
“We cannot remain silent in the face of the suffering of so many people — defenceless victims of these conflicts,” he said. “What wounds them wounds all of humanity.”
According to him, the deaths and destruction caused by war represent a moral failure for the global community. “The death and pain caused by these wars are a scandal for the entire human family, and a cry that rises to God,” he added.
With Holy Week approaching, Pope Leo XIV also delivered a spiritual message, urging Christians to reflect deeply on the significance of Christ’s Passion. He called on the faithful to move beyond materialism and selfishness, which he described as barriers to spiritual fulfilment.
He encouraged believers to revisit key moments in the life of Jesus Christ — including the Last Supper, crucifixion and resurrection — to better understand their meaning and embrace divine grace.
The pope criticised modern society’s pursuit of material success and fleeting pleasures, warning that such pursuits cannot satisfy humanity’s deeper longing for purpose.
“It is a symptom of a longing for the infinite that each of us carries within us — a need that cannot be satisfied by passing things,” he said.
Quoting Saint Augustine, he added: “Nothing finite can quench our inner thirst, for we are made for God, and we find no peace until we rest in him.”
Drawing from the biblical story of Lazarus, the pope urged individuals to break free from spiritual emptiness and destructive habits, describing them as “tombs” of selfishness, violence and superficial living.
“In these places there is no life, but only confusion, dissatisfaction and loneliness,” he said.
He called on believers to embrace renewal through faith, urging them to “come out” and live lives marked by hope, love and selflessness.
The pope concluded his address by highlighting the unifying power of sports, expressing hope that activities such as the Rome Marathon would promote peace, inclusion and spiritual growth.
“May sport pave paths of peace, social inclusion, and spirituality,” he said.
