Upon arriving at Castel Gandolfo on Wednesday afternoon, August 13, Pope Leo XIV attended to journalists and answered various questions about current issues.
In particular, he was consulted about his expectations about the summit that will be held next Friday, which will meet the president of the United States, Donald Trump, and the president of Russia, Vladimir Putin.
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The meeting, scheduled for August 15 in Alaska, will address the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, a country invaded by the Russian army in February three years ago.
On this meeting, the Holy Father said: “We must always look for the stop the fire; we must end violence and with so many dead. Let’s see how they can agree. Because after so much war time, what is the end? We must always bet on dialogue, for diplomatic work, and not for violence or for weapons.”
As reported Vatican NewsPope Leo XIV also referred to the possible deportation of the population of Gaza.
“In any case, the humanitarian crisis must be resolved, you cannot continue like this. We know the violence of terrorism and respect the many who have died and also the hostages, they need to be released. But we must also think about the many who are dying of hunger,” said the Holy Father.
Asked about the diplomatic efforts of the Holy See to stop conflicts, the Pontiff said that “the Holy See cannot stop them.”
However, he said that “we are working, say, for a ‘soft diplomacy‘(Soft diplomacy), always inviting, promoting the search for nonviolence through dialogue and looking for solutions, because these problems cannot be solved with war. ”
The Holy Father is in Castel Gandolfo to spend a second holiday period. In this residence, located on the shores of Lake Albano, it will be until August 19.
Tomorrow, solemnity of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, will celebrate the Holy Mass in the Pontifical Parish of Castel Gandolfo.
On Sunday, August 17, at 9:30 am (local time), the Holy Father will arrive at the Sanctuary of Santa María de la Rotonda in Albano, Italian municipality that limits with Castel Gandolfo, to celebrate the Holy Mass with a group of people in need that receive assistance from Cáritas.
At the end of the Mass, he will go to Castel Gandolfo to preside over the prayer of the Angelus at 12:00 hours from the Plaza de la Libertad.
Almudena Martínez-Bordiú
Graduated in journalism and advertising from the CEU San Pablo University of Madrid. Specialized in religious information in Spain since 2015. It has been a senior correspondent for ACI Press and Ewtn News at the Vatican for two years and is currently a correspondent for Europe based on Spain.