Pope Leo XIV Calls for Peace Amid Ethiopia's Renewed Conflict

Pope Leo XIV urged for dialogue and humanitarian aid at the end of his General Audience, expressing concern over the renewed fighting in Ethiopia. The clashes between Ethiopian federal forces and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) intensified last week, jeopardizing the 2022 Pretoria Peace Agreement that concluded a previous two-year conflict.

Fighting has spread across Tigray, Afar, and Amhara, with government forces reportedly advancing towards Mekelle, Tigray’s capital. Pro-government forces claimed to have captured Alamata in southern Tigray.

Reports from residents and health workers indicated heavy shelling in Maychew, resulting in 44 critically injured civilians, including 33 children, with at least four fatalities during transport to Aydar Referral Hospital in Mekelle. The conflict follows unresolved issues from the 2022 peace agreement, with escalating tensions since late 2025 due to federal drone strikes and troop deployments in Tigray.

Pope Leo emphasized that only sincere dialogue could lead to lasting peace.