Pope Leo XIV, history's first American pope, has vowed to work for unity so that the Catholic Church becomes a sign of peace ...

“Let us build a church founded on God’s love, a sign of unity ... Leo expressed hope for negotiations to bring a “just and lasting peace” in Ukraine and offered prayers for the people ...

On May 16, 2025, Istanbul hosted the first direct peace negotiations between Ukrainian ... the summit offered a glimmer of hope—but one largely dimmed by entrenched positions, political theatre ...