Pope Leo XIV on Good Friday intensified diplomatic appeals for peace, holding separate phone conversations with the presidents of Israel and Ukraine as conflicts continue to escalate in both regions.
In a statement issued April 3, the Vatican said the pontiff used his call with Israeli President Isaac Herzog to exchange Easter greetings while urging renewed diplomatic efforts to end the violence in the Middle East.
“During the conversation, the need to reopen all possible channels of diplomatic dialogue was reiterated, to put an end to the serious ongoing conflict, with a view to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East,” the statement said.
The discussion also highlighted the need to safeguard civilians and uphold international humanitarian law amid the widening conflict involving Iran and its regional spillover into Lebanon.
According to the Israeli presidency, Herzog raised concerns about ongoing security threats, including missile attacks.
“President Herzog recalled the recent Iranian missile attacks on Jerusalem that fell in the area of sites holy to Christians, Muslims, and Jews,” his office said, noting further discussions on the protection of Christian communities along the Israel-Lebanon border.
The Israeli leader also stressed the importance of cooperation between global and religious leaders in combating antisemitism, while both sides expressed hope for “a more peaceful future for people of all faiths across the world, free from the threat of violence and bloodshed.”
The call comes amid heightened tensions in Jerusalem, following an incident in which Latin Patriarch Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa was initially barred by Israeli police from leading Palm Sunday Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher due to security concerns linked to falling missile debris. Authorities later reversed the restriction after international backlash.
In a separate conversation, Pope Leo spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, focusing on the humanitarian impact of the ongoing war. The Vatican described the exchange as “cordial,” with the pope conveying Easter greetings and reaffirming solidarity with the Ukrainian people.
“The discussion then focused on the humanitarian situation, reiterating the urgency of ensuring the necessary aid to the population affected by the conflict,” the Vatican said, adding that efforts to secure the release of prisoners were also discussed.
The Holy See expressed hope that “with the commitment and support of the international community, a cessation of hostilities and a just and lasting peace can be achieved as soon as possible.”
Friday’s engagements form part of Pope Leo XIV’s sustained calls for an end to global conflicts.
On Palm Sunday, he condemned the use of religion to justify violence, declaring: “This is our God: Jesus, King of Peace, who rejects war, whom no one can use to justify war.”
“He does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them, saying: ‘Even though you make many prayers, I will not listen: your hands are full of blood’,” the pope added.
Reinforcing his message during the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday, the pontiff warned against violence and domination, stating, “the imperialist occupation of the world is thus disrupted from within; the violence that until now has been the law is unmasked.”
