During a recent General Audience, Pope Leo XIV called on Catholics worldwide to intensify their prayers for the people of Ukraine while also issuing a grave warning about the global consequences of nuclear proliferation, according to Vatican News.
As winter conditions worsen and attacks on civilian infrastructure continue, the Holy Father emphasized the suffering endured by Ukrainians amid ongoing conflict. “I urge everyone to support our brothers and sisters in Ukraine with prayer, as they are being severely tested by the consequences of bombardments that have once again begun to strike energy infrastructure as well,” the Pope said, according to Vatican News.
Pope Leo also expressed gratitude for tangible acts of charity shown by the international Catholic community. He specifically thanked dioceses in Poland and elsewhere for assisting civilians facing freezing temperatures, praising those “which are working to help the population endure during this time of intense cold,” according to the report.
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Beyond the immediate humanitarian crisis, the Pope addressed a looming global concern: the expiration of the New START Treaty, a nuclear arms reduction agreement between the United States and the Russian Federation. Signed in 2010 and extended in 2021, the treaty is set to expire without a successor in place.
Highlighting the treaty’s importance, Pope Leo XIV underscored its role in limiting the spread of nuclear weapons and fostering trust between nations. “I issue an urgent appeal that this instrument not be allowed to lapse without seeking to ensure a concrete and effective follow-up,” he said, according to Vatican News.
The Pope warned that failure to preserve such agreements risks igniting a new arms race, stating that the current moment “demands that everything possible be done to avert a new arms race that would further threaten peace among nations,” according to the same source.
Calling for a moral shift in international relations, Pope Leo urged world leaders to abandon fear-driven decision-making. He appealed instead for a shared ethical vision oriented toward the common good, so that peace may be upheld not as an abstract ideal, but as a shared responsibility safeguarded by all.
According to Vatican News, experts have warned that the collapse of New START could lead to increased nuclear stockpiling and reduced transparency between major powers. The treaty limits deployed strategic nuclear weapons and requires regular inspections and data exchanges, measures long seen as essential to maintaining global stability.
Pope Leo XIV’s appeal reflects the Church’s consistent teaching on peace, disarmament, and the protection of human life—principles he urged the world not to abandon at a moment when both war and nuclear threat weigh heavily on humanity.
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