Pope: May the Lord give leaders the capacity to pause and mediate for peace

By Linda Bordoni

Pope Francis on Sunday invoked political leaders to pause and make efforts to mediate, to negotiate a path to peace.

Speaking during the Regina Coeli address, the Holy Father invited the faithful not to fail in continuing to pray for peace: “A just, lasting peace, especially for the tormented Ukraine and for Palestine and Israel.”

And reiterating his tireless appeal to those in power to do everything possible to stop ongoing conflicts, he prayed to the Risen Lord to enlighten and sustain those engaged in efforts to negotiate a political solution.

“May the spirit of the Risen Lord enlighten and sustain all those who work to decrease the tension, and encourage gestures that make negotiations possible,” he said.

And directing his appeal to political leaders he said: “May the Lord give the leaders the ability to pause a little to mediate, to negotiate.”

Repeated appeals

On every possible occasion, the Holy Father has tirelessly appealed for peace and restraint, and for prayers for millions of innocent people caught up in conflicts worldwide.

In particular, he has invited people to pray almost daily and urged leaders to negotiate since Russia‘s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas that was triggered by the killing – by Hamas – of over 1,300 people and the abduction of 250 others on 7 October 2023, sparking six months of relentless Israeli bombings on Gaza that have killed over 33,000 Palestinians.