Pope Francis on Sunday called for a diplomatic solution to the war in Ukraine, which would lead to a just and lasting peace, in the context of commemorating two years since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, reports Reuters, reported by Agerpres.

“So many victims, wounded, destruction, suffering and tears in a period that has become terribly long and the end of which is not in sight. This is a war that not only devastates this region, but also unleashes global waves of hatred and fear,” said Pope Francis during the weekly message of the Angel of the Lord.

“I am pleading for some humanity to be found to create the conditions for a diplomatic solution in search of a just and lasting peace,” he said.

Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) countries expressed their commitment to support Ukraine on Saturday, and Western leaders arrived in Kyiv to show their solidarity, marking two years since the beginning of Russia’s invasion of the country.

Pope Francis also expressed concern about the escalation of violence in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Fierce clashes between the Democratic Republic of Congo’s army and the Rwandan-backed M23 Tutsi rebels in eastern Congo escalated last week, killing dozens and displacing hundreds of thousands.

“I join the bishops in their call to pray for peace, hoping to end the confrontations and find a true and constructive dialogue,” he said.

Pope Francis renewed his prayers for Israel, for the Palestinians and for “many people marked by war.”

____

• Follow the latest events of the war in Ukraine LIVETEXT on HotNews.ro