At the end of Mass in St. Peter’s Square on World Mission Sunday, Pope Leo XIV prayed for peace around the world.
The Pope appealed for a ceasefire in Myanmar, where conflict has raged since May 2021, calling news coming from the Southeast Asian nation “distressing.”
He lamented the armed clashes and aerial bombardments against civilians and infrastructure, expressing his closeness to all those who suffer due to violence and hardship.
“I renew my heartfelt appeal for an immediate and effective ceasefire,” he said. “May the instruments of war give way to those of peace through inclusive and constructive dialogue!”
Pope Leo then prayed for peace in the Holy Land, Ukraine, and other places afflicted by war.
“May God grant all leaders wisdom and perseverance to advance in the pursuit of a just and lasting peace,” he said.
In his remarks ahead of the Angelus prayer, the Pope also invited Christians to embrace the Church’s missionary nature on World Mission Sunday.
“The Church is entirely missionary, but today we pray especially for those men and women who have left everything to bring the Gospel to those who do not yet know it,” he said. “They are missionaries of hope among the nations. May the Lord bless them!”
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