Pope Leo XIV Calls for Peace Amidst Global Conflicts
Vatican, Sun 7 September 2025, In a message before leading the recitation of the Angelus prayer with the faithful in Saint Peter's Square, Pope Leo XIV urged everyone to remain vigilant in their prayers for peace in the Holy Land, Ukraine, and all regions affected by war. He emphasized, "God wants peace!"
Following the Mass and the canonization of Pier Giorgio Frassati and Carlo Acutis in Saint Peter’s Square, the Pope expressed a deep commitment to entrusting our constant prayers for peace to the intercession of the Saints and the Virgin Mary. He reiterated, "God does not want war; God wants peace!"
Pope Leo encouraged the faithful to continue praying for the people enduring hardship in the Holy Land, Ukraine, and other wartorn areas. He called on world leaders to heed their consciences, stating that "the apparent victories achieved through weapons, which sow death and destruction, are, in fact, defeats, and they never bring peace or security."
"God does not want war. God wants peace! And God supports those who commit to breaking the spiral of hatred and choosing the path of dialogue," he added.
New Blesseds Honored in Hungary and Estonia
Pope Leo XIV also took a moment to acknowledge the celebrations taking place in Estonia and Hungary, where two new Blesseds were commemorated.
In Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, Jesuit Archbishop Eduard Profittlich was beatified on Saturday, September 6. He was martyred in 1942 during the Soviet regime’s persecution of the Church.
In a separate ceremony in Veszprém, Hungary, Mária Magdolna Bódi, a courageous young laywoman, was beatified. She was killed in 1945 for resisting soldiers who attempted to assault her. The Pope remarked that the Church is enriched by the witness of these two new Blesseds.
Pope Leo XIV expressed gratitude to the crowd of over eighty thousand in attendance for taking part in the canonization ceremony. He extended his greetings to bishops, priests, official delegations, distinguished authorities, and the faithful from around the world for their participation and presence in this long-awaited celebration.