Pope Leo Calls for Divine Guidance Amid Global Tensions

Pope Leo, marking the first anniversary of his leadership of the Roman Catholic Church, delivered a message in Pompei, Italy, calling on global leaders to seek divine guidance to reduce international tensions and the cycle of hatred. This appeal was made during his visit to the modern city near the ancient volcanic eruption site.

The pontiff's remarks followed a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the Vatican, which was described as unusually frank given the current strain in U.S.-Vatican relations.

Pope Leo, the first U.S.-born pope, emphasized the need for governments to be responsible and warned that global peace is endangered by rising international tensions and economic preferences for arms trade over respect for human life. He urged people not to become desensitized to conflict and to imagine the daily realities of death caused by war.