Pope Leo XIV Appeals for Peace in Yemen and Jordan
Pope Leo XIV made a heartfelt appeal for an end to hostilities in Yemen and prayed for the victims of a terrorist attack against churchgoers in Jordan as he addressed the faithful following the Angelus on Sunday, 25 Oct…
Pope Leo XIV made a heartfelt appeal for an end to hostilities in Yemen and prayed for the victims of a terrorist attack against churchgoers in Jordan as he addressed the faithful following the Angelus on Sunday, 25 October.
Expressing grave concern over the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, Pope Leo specifically highlighted the situation in Taiz, “where the population is suffering from a lack of food, water, and medical care.” He stated, “I make a heartfelt appeal for hostilities to cease and for the Yemeni people and all the peoples of the region to be guaranteed a life of peace.” The ongoing fighting and road closures in Taiz have cut off vital supplies, leaving civilians facing increasing shortages of water, food, and fuel. The United Nations has called for urgent humanitarian access, raising alarms that hospitals are struggling to maintain essential services as stocks of medicines and oxygen dwindle. Additionally, shortages are jeopardizing community kitchens that provide meals to vulnerable families.
Turning to the situation in Jordan, Pope Leo expressed his prayers for those killed and injured in the attack against the faithful of St George’s Orthodox Church in Harmoud on Friday. “I am close to that community and to the entire country, which stands out for its peaceful coexistence and respect among different religions,” he remarked. Nine people were killed and approximately forty wounded when gunmen opened fire during a funeral at the church in Jordan’s Karak governorate on 23 October. Authorities continued their search for the attackers, and as of now, no group has claimed responsibility.
Pope Leo also looked forward to the gathering of Church leaders and religious leaders in Assisi on Tuesday, 27 October, which will commemorate forty years since the original meeting convened by Saint John Paul II in 1986. “Let us continue to pray together for peace,” he urged, inviting the faithful to unite spiritually with the attendees. “Never before has it been so evident that wars, besides sowing death and destruction, impoverish and damage the world,” he reflected. He concluded by expressing hope that the Lord would inspire choices of dialogue and peace.
