Pope Leo XIV on Sunday urged an end to the “pandemic of weapons” as he prayed for the many children killed by violence and conflicts around the world.
The American pontiff repeated his appeals after the Sunday prayer at the Vatican, calling for a ceasefire in Ukraine following Thursday’s Russian attack on Kyiv, which killed at least 25 people, including four children.
He also referred to the recent attack during a mass at a school in Minnesota, USA, where two children were killed.
“We include in our prayers the children killed and wounded every day around the world. Let us pray that God will stop the pandemic of weapons, both large and small, that infects our world.”
He stressed that the world must not surrender to indifference and renewed his call for an immediate ceasefire and a serious commitment to dialogue.
“It is time for those in positions of responsibility to abandon the logic of arms and to follow the path of negotiation and peace, with the support of the international community.”
