In Angelus after canonizations, Pope Leo appeals again for peace in Holy Land, Ukraine

Following the Sept. 7 Mass for the canonizations of Saints Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati, Pope Leo XIV urged in his Angelus address for leaders to pursue peace especially in the Holy Land and Ukraine. 

“To the intercession of the Saints and the Virgin Mary, we entrust our unceasing prayer for peace, especially in the Holy Land and Ukraine, and in every other land blood-stained by war,” Pope Leo said in the address at St. Peter’s Square. “To those in power, I repeat: listen to the voice of conscience! The apparent victories achieved with weapons, which sow death and destruction, are in reality defeats and never bring peace or security!”

“God does not want war, He wants peace,” the Pope added, “and He strengthens those who are committed to leaving behind the spiral of hatred and taking the path of dialogue.”

>> Pope Leo canonizes Pier Giorgio Frassati and Carlo Acutis: They were ‘ready to give everything’ for Jesus <<

Earlier in the address, Pope Leo also highlighted that there are two new Blesseds in the Church as well: Jesuit Archbishop Edoardo Profittlich, who was beatified in Tallinn, Estonia, and laywoman Maria Maddalena Bódi, who was beatified in Verszprém, Hungary. The Pope explained that Bl. Profittlich was martyred in 1942 under the Soviet regime’s persecution of the Church, and Bl. Bódi was martyred in 1945 for resisting soldiers who attempted to assault her. 

The new blesseds were beatified Sept. 6. 

“Let us praise the Lord for these two martyrs,” Pope Leo said, “courageous witnesses to the beauty of the Gospel!”