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Pope Leo decries ‘sharp intensification’ of war in Ukraine

By Thomson Reuters May 27, 2026 | 4:09 AM

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)