Fr. Raymond J. de Souza, National Catholic Register
Friday, September 5, 2025
Some observers have noted that Leo’s peace initiatives echo Pope Francis’ early in his pontificate. The former is different from the latter, however, and likely took some lessons from the unintended consequences of 2013. That’s when Pope Francis led a prayer vigil in St. Peter’s Square and encouraged similar services throughout the Church. Both prayer days were linked to Marian feasts. The 2013 papal push for peace in Syria remains a difficult moment in papal diplomacy, for the unintended consequences were to strengthen Vladimir Putin in Russia. Six months later, he launched his first invasion of Ukraine.
