Come, Sit Down’: Pope Leo XIV Urges Russia-Ukraine Dialogue, Criticises Arms Spending

Pope Leo XIV urged Russia and Ukraine to resolve their differences through dialogue, warning that rising military spending was enriching a small number of people while increasing the risk of further conflict.

Speaking to journalists aboard his flight from Metz to Rome on Monday evening, after an apostolic visit to France, the Pope said the Church would continue pressing world leaders to pursue alternatives to war, Vatican News reported.

“I believe the Church has a responsibility to promote those values, continually inviting leaders such as those of Russia and Ukraine, and other countries, to come, to sit down, to engage in dialogue, to seek ways of resolving problems without continuing these wars that no longer make sense,” he said.

‘Billions Upon Billions’ Could Meet Human Needs

The Pope criticised spending on the arms industry, arguing that resources devoted to weapons could help address urgent social and economic problems.

“A small number of people are becoming immensely wealthy from an industry that promotes war. Yet these billions upon billions of euros or dollars could be used to solve problems such as world hunger, housing, unemployment and so on,” he said.

He warned that calls for more weapons could heighten tensions and make another conflict more likely. Powers seeking to impose their will through force, rather than negotiation, were pushing the world towards further confrontation, he said.

The Church’s responsibility, he added, was to keep advocating dialogue even when its appeals appeared to have little effect.

“We cannot force anyone. At times it may seem futile, but we will keep speaking, we will keep inviting, we will keep proclaiming the Gospel.”

Ukraine Reports Deadly Strike on Science Academy

The appeal came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported fresh Russian attacks on Kyiv and other parts of the country.

In posts on X on Monday, Zelenskyy said a strike on the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine building in Kyiv had killed one person and injured six, including three children.

Rescue teams were extinguishing a fire and searching for people who might have been trapped, he said.

Zelenskyy also reported strikes on a pharmaceutical company and petrol stations in Kyiv, a business centre in Dnipro, and civilian facilities, businesses and communications infrastructure elsewhere.

Zelenskyy Demands Stronger Pressure on Moscow

Zelenskyy urged Ukraine’s partners to intensify pressure on the financing, production and use of Russian weapons.

“Every Russian act of terror results in casualties that could have been prevented if pressure on Russia had finally become total,” he said.

He called for a response backed by international resolve, saying Ukraine was relying on Europe, the United States and other partners to help protect lives.

“Supporting Ukraine means truly supporting people’s lives – supporting the principle that terror must never be normalised, anywhere,” he said.

The Pope’s appeal also followed remarks by US President Donald Trump, who said on September 26, after meeting Zelenskyy, that he wanted Russia and Ukraine to settle the war.

With inputs from ANI