Pope Leo expresses hope Ukraine, Russia negotiations bear fruit September 7, 2026By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, War in Ukraine, World News Pope Leo XIV once again appealed for peace in Ukraine and prayed that U.S.-led negotiation efforts would finally bring an end to the death and destruction caused by the conflict now in its fourth year.
‘Let us be clear: this war must end,’ Archbishop Gallagher tells Russian authorities in Moscow August 26, 2026By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, War in Ukraine, World News The Vatican foreign minister urged Russian officials to end their war with Ukraine and to begin negotiations with the help of the international community.
Vatican’s top diplomat begins visit to Russia as European leaders flock to Kyiv August 25, 2026By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, War in Ukraine, World News Archbishop Paul R. Gallagher, the Vatican’s secretary for relations with states and international organizations, arrived in Moscow Aug. 24 for a four-day visit, with meetings scheduled with Russian government, Orthodox and Catholic leaders.
‘Prayer is our number one weapon’ against Russian aggression, says papal nuncio to Ukraine August 21, 2026By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, War in Ukraine, World News As Russia’s full-scale war on Ukraine — which continues attacks launched in 2014 — nears its fifth year, OSV News sat down Aug. 12 with Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas, papal nuncio to Ukraine, for a reflection on faith and prayer amid relentless conflict.
Russian attack leaves 8 dead in Ukraine; suspected missile lands in Poland July 31, 2026By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, War in Ukraine, World News An overnight July 30 onslaught of Russian missiles and drones struck Ukraine, leaving eight people, including several children, dead and dozens wounded in the aftermath.
Ukraine and the limits of dialogue July 22, 2026By George Weigel OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, The Catholic Difference, War in Ukraine Russian strikes are deliberately aimed at civilian sites, and while Ukrainian air defenses shoot down some of the missiles and drones, others get through. Innocents are killed and families lose their homes because of this campaign to intentionally inflict civilian casualties.
As America marks 250 years, Ukrainian Catholic bishops offer a lesson in what freedom costs July 8, 2026By Katarzyna Szalajko OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, War in Ukraine, World News As America’s 250th anniversary was celebrated across the States and the world, with Pope Leo XIV accepting the Liberty Medal for the occasion, U.S. Ukrainian Catholic bishops asked Americans to consider the meaning of freedom through the experience of a nation still fighting to preserve it.
Catholic, Orthodox leaders condemn Russian attack on Kyiv cathedral June 15, 2026By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, War in Ukraine, World News Catholic and Orthodox leaders are expressing shock and outrage after a Russian drone strike heavily damaged a historic monastery complex in Kyiv, Ukraine, with a cathedral set ablaze.
Ukrainian nun on front lines meets Pope Leo, pleads for help to ‘end the war’ May 22, 2026By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, War in Ukraine, World News A Ukrainian nun serving in a city on the front lines met with Pope Leo XIV during a private audience with members of a papal society, handing him images of two Ukrainian soldiers in captivity and pleading with him to “end the war.”
Catholic aid organizations remain ‘united in hope’ for Ukraine as war rages on May 6, 2026By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, War in Ukraine, World News Several Catholic aid organizations are affirming they remain “united in hope” for Ukraine, as Russia’s war on that nation relentlessly rages on.
Catholic leaders appeal to end Russia’s religious persecution in Ukraine April 15, 2026By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Religious Freedom, War in Ukraine, World News Several prominent American Catholics have launched a petition calling for the end of Russia’s religious persecution in occupied areas of Ukraine.
‘The power with which Christ rose is entirely nonviolent,’ pope says in Easter peace message April 5, 2026By Courtney Mares OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, Vatican, War in Ukraine, World News Speaking from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica on Easter, Pope Leo XIV delivered a passionate appeal for peace, declaring that the power of the risen Christ is “entirely nonviolent” and calling on world leaders to lay down their weapons and choose dialogue over domination.
