Pope ​Leo on Wednesday (May 27, 2026) 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.

Pope calls idea of ‘just war’ put forward by U.S. ‘outdated’ in first manifesto

“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.