--- title: "Pope Leo XIV Calls for Immediate Cessation of War: \"Innocents Are Dying on Both Sides\"" description: "🇻🇦 Pope Leo XIV has called for an immediate cessation of the war between Russia and Ukraine. During the Sunday prayer, the Pontiff expressed concern over the rise in civilian casualties, noting that innocents are dying \"on both sides\". The UN records more than 16,000 peaceful residents killed over 4.5 years of conflict. 🕊️" date: 2026-08-09T23:14:00.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/pope-leo-xiv-calls-for-immediate-cessation-of-war-russia-ukraine tags: [pope-leo-xiv, ukraine-war, russia, vatican, peace-talks, civilian-casualties] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Pope Leo XIV Calls for Immediate Cessation of War: "Innocents Are Dying on Both Sides" ![Pope Leo XIV in green vestments and mitre calls for an end to the war](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/10/papa-lev-xiv-prizval-prekratit-voynu-rossiya-ukraina/papa-lev-xiv-prizval-prekratit-voynu-rossiya-ukraina-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - Pope Leo XIV called for the cessation of the war and the protection of civilians. - The UN reports an increase in the number of civilian casualties in 2026. - The Vatican emphasizes the death of innocent people both in Ukraine and in Russia. - The address is a continuation of the peacekeeping policy started under Pope Francis. **August 10, 2026** — During the traditional Sunday "Angelus" prayer on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV made an emotional appeal to the parties involved in the conflict in Eastern Europe. The head of the Catholic Church once again called on Russia and Ukraine to immediately cease hostilities, expressing deep concern over the tragic dynamics of the situation. ### Call to Protect Civilian Populations In his address, the Pontiff emphasized that he cannot remain indifferent to the suffering caused by war. "Tragic incidents are multiplying, leading to a constantly growing number of casualties among the civilian population, including children," stated Leo XIV. He urged both sides of the conflict to strictly adhere to the norms of international humanitarian law and ensure the protection of civilians from attacks. The Pope noted that his heart aches for the people of Ukraine, but also called for compassion towards victims on Russian territory. "Innocent people are dying and getting wounded both in Ukraine and in Russia," he said, calling for an end to violence to achieve "true, just, and lasting peace". ### Rising Casualties and Escalation of Conflict in 2026 According to UN data cited in Reuters materials, more than 16,000 civilians have died in nearly four and a half years of full-scale war. However, as experts note, there is a sharp increase in the number of civilian casualties in the current year, 2026. This is linked to the active use of unmanned aerial vehicles and missile strikes on infrastructure and cities. In particular, incidents confirming the exacerbation of the situation have been recorded in recent days: eight people were injured as a result of a Russian airstrike on Odesa. From the Russian side, there are also official data on the consequences of drone attacks in the Belgorod region, confirming the mutual nature of threats to the civilian population. ### Vatican Policy: From Francis to Leo XIV The address by Leo XIV is not an isolated event. Even in his first address after being elected in 2025, he mentioned the war in Ukraine as one of the main problems of modern times. This continued the course started by his predecessor, Pope Francis, who actively advocated for peace negotiations. Recall that Pope Francis passed away suddenly on April 21 of last year after fighting severe pneumonia for more than a month. His departure was a turning point for the Vatican, and the new Pontiff, Leo XIV, took on the mission of continuing diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict, maintaining neutrality while openly condemning violence. ### Contradictory Data Although the Vatican's position remains unchanged — a call for peace and the protection of the innocent — there are differences in the interpretation of the causes of the conflict and the responsibility of the parties. While Western sources and the UN focus on casualties in Ukraine, Russian official data emphasize threats from Ukrainian drones in border regions. In its statement, the Vatican tries to maintain balance, mentioning victims "on both sides," which elicits an ambiguous reaction in diplomatic circles where each side strives for recognition of its own righteousness. ## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification - [Pope calls for an end to the war between Russia and Ukraine](https://novosti.ua/society/papa-rimskiy-prizval-rossii-i-ukraine-prekratit-voynu) - Подтверждает основной факт выступления Папы Льва XIV и цитаты. - [Pope Leo calls for an end to the war in Ukraine and strikes on civilian objects](https://zn.ua/WORLD/papa-lev-prizval-prekratit-vojnu-v-ukraine-i-udary-po-hrazhdanskim-obektam.html) - Детализирует призыв к соблюдению гуманитарного права. - [Pope Leo spoke about the dead "on both sides": what he said about the war in Ukraine](https://tsn.ua/ru/svit/papa-lev-zagovoril-o-pogibshih-s-obeih-storon-chto-skazal-o-voyne-v-ukraine-3145253.html) - Подтверждает тезис о жертвах с обеих сторон. - [The Pope made a statement about the conflict in Ukraine](https://news.rambler.ru/world/56881732-papa-rimskiy-sdelal-zayavlenie-o-konflikte-na-ukraine/) - Подтверждено по источнику news.rambler.ru ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: Who is Pope Leo XIV? **A:** Leo XIV is the current Pope, elected in 2025 following the death of Pope Francis. ### Q: What exactly did the Pope say about the war? **A:** He called for an immediate cessation of the conflict, the protection of civilians, and compliance with international humanitarian law. ### Q: How many civilians have died according to the UN? **A:** According to UN data, more than 16,000 civilians have died in nearly 4.5 years of war.