On the Catholic feast day dedicated to the Virgin Mary, Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, prayed for an end to the “increasingly deafening violence” of global conflicts from Castel Gandolfo, Italy, as a pivotal US-Russia summit on the Ukraine war commenced in Alaska. Without directly referencing the meeting between Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, Pope Leo emphasized dialogue and peace, drawing parallels to Pope Pius XII’s World War II-era hope that wars would cease.

Speaking from the main piazza of Castel Gandolfo, where he has spent much of the summer, Pope Leo urged resilience against the dominance of armed conflict. “We must not resign ourselves to the logic of war,” he declared, echoing his prior calls for peace, including conversations with Putin on June 4 and a second meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on July 9. The Pope expressed hope for a cease-fire, noting to reporters earlier this week that the Ukraine conflict has caused too many deaths with no resolution in sight.

Pope Leo’s prayers were echoed by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, spiritual leader of the world’s Orthodox Christians, who, during a visit to Gokceada, Turkey, prayed for the summit’s success. “Enlighten the leaders… that they may bring peace, end these murderous wars, and let justice and mutual respect reign,” Bartholomew said.

As Pope Leo marks his 100th day as pope on August 16, his ongoing vacation at Castel Gandolfo, punctuated by engagements like the Holy Year celebration for youth, underscores his commitment to fostering hope and peace worldwide.

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