A Cry from the Holy See: Pope Leo Sounds the Alarm on Ukraine’s ‘Ever-Growing’ Civilian Toll

Pope Leo has issued a powerful and urgent plea for an end to the escalating violence in Ukraine, decrying the “ever-growing number of civilian victims, including children,” as the brutal conflict enters its fourth year. Speaking to worshippers gathered for the Sunday Angelus prayer, the pontiff renewed his appeal for international humanitarian law to be respected and for “attacks against civilian targets to cease on both sides.” His words come at a time when civilian casualties have surged dramatically, with the U.N. reporting that injuries and deaths in Ukraine had increased by more than a third in the first half of the year alone, driven largely by a rise in drone attacks. The toll has been devastating: more than 16,000 civilians have been killed since the start of the war, the overwhelming majority of them Ukrainian, while recent drone strikes have also claimed lives on Russian soil, including five people in the city of Belgorod.

The pontiff’s plea highlights the heartbreaking reality of a war that spares no one, as both Kyiv and Moscow continue to launch devastating strikes. Ukraine’s Odesa seaport sustained damage in an overnight Russian attack that wounded eight people, while Ukraine has also responded with waves of drone attacks deep into Russian territory. As Pope Leo called for an immediate cessation of attacks on civilian targets, his message echoed the broader humanitarian tragedy unfolding across the region. While both Russia and Ukraine deny deliberately targeting civilians, the mounting casualties—and the Pope’s impassioned plea—serve as a stark reminder of the war’s devastating human cost. The Holy See’s voice joins a growing chorus of international leaders demanding an end to the bloodshed and a return to diplomacy. But for the families grieving in Odesa, Belgorod, and countless other cities, the Pope’s words are a desperate prayer for peace in a conflict that seems to have no end in sight.

Courtesy of:
BLN ENTERTAINMENT TV
“where Entertainment meets EXCELLENCE “
www.BLNENTERTAINMENTTV.com

#BLNEtv #BLNEntertainmenttv #Video #Faith #Christ #BlessingLightHallowed