Pope Leo decries 'sharp intensification' of war in Ukraine


Pope Leo XIV arrives for the weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, May 27, 2026. REUTERS/Yara Nardi

VATICAN CITY, ⁠May 27 (Reuters) - Pope ⁠Leo on Wednesday decried ‌what he called a "sharp intensification" of the war in Ukraine, ​telling pilgrims at his ⁠weekly audience ⁠at the Vatican that he ⁠wanted ‌to express closeness to civilians ⁠killed in recent attacks.

"I am ​following ‌with concern the war ⁠in Ukraine," ​Leo, the first U.S. pope, said. "War does ⁠not solve problems, but ​aggravates them. It does not build security, but multiplies ⁠suffering and hatred".

"Where missiles and drones fall, hopes also fall, homes and ​places of ⁠worship are destroyed, and ​innocent lives are ‌shattered," he said.

(Reporting ​by Joshua McElwee, editing by Giulia Segreti)

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