- Category
- Latest news
Pope Leo XIV Condemns Russia’s War on Ukraine as “Imperialist Invasion”
- Authors
![Ivan_khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
-21d0b63c17f6020e4df75f6c6f9a2f4f.jpg "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Newly elected Pope Leo XIV has made his first public remarks on Russia’s war against Ukraine, delivering a clear and firm condemnation of Russia’s actions.
In an interview with the Peruvian outlet Semanario Expresión, the American-born pontiff described the war as “a true invasion, imperialist in nature,” emphasizing that Russia is attempting to seize territory out of a desire for power and strategic control.
According to the Pope, Russia’s invasion is not only war, but also a humanitarian crisis. He acknowledged that “crimes against humanity are being committed in Ukraine” and called for greater moral clarity in addressing the war, adding that “some leaders in our own countries still avoid acknowledging the evil of what is happening there.”
“This is a serious global issue,” Pope Leo XIV said. “We must all insist on the pursuit of peace and laying down of arms. We cannot solve problems through violence. Let there be a pause to this injustice—even if only because so many innocent people are dying.”
His statement marks a significant departure from the more cautious tone of his predecessor, Pope Francis, who was frequently criticized in Ukraine for failing to clearly identify Russia as the aggressor and for emphasizing the “shared brotherhood” between Russians and Ukrainians without addressing responsibility for the war.
Who Is Pope Leo XIV?
Born Robert Francis Prevost on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Pope Leo XIV is the first pope in history to come from the United States. However, his pastoral and missionary career was primarily shaped in Peru, where he lived for decades and was granted citizenship in 2015.
He served as a missionary and later as bishop in the city of Chiclayo before being appointed by Pope Francis in 2023 to lead the Vatican’s Dicastery for Bishops. Prior to his papal election, he was also head of the Augustinian Order and the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.
Fluent in English, Spanish, Italian, French, and Portuguese—and able to read Latin and German—Leo XIV is considered one of the Church’s most linguistically and culturally versatile leaders. His background has shaped a worldview rooted in direct pastoral care, open dialogue, and proximity to the faithful, rather than institutional hierarchy.
In his first public address following the conclave, he called on all nations to seek peace:
“May peace be with you. These are the first words of the risen Christ. Let peace be among all people. Christ brings peace for all, and it comes from a God who loves us unconditionally.”
Though relatively unknown on the global stage before his election, Vatican observers note that his decades of service abroad and deep ties to the global South bring a fresh perspective to the papacy at a time of rising geopolitical and humanitarian challenges.
Earlier, during the funeral of Pope Francis on April 26, the Vatican broke protocol to seat President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the front row at St. Peter’s Square—an unusual move that placed him alongside world leaders like Emmanuel Macron and Donald Trump.
