Pope Condemns Violence, Urges Ceasefire in Sudan

Pope Leo XIV on Sunday reiterated his appeal for an immediate ceasefire in Sudan and the “urgent opening of humanitarian corridors” to ease what he described as the “unacceptable suffering” brought on by the country’s ongoing civil war.

Addressing worshippers during his Angelus prayer at Saint Peter’s Square, the pope expressed deep concern over the escalating violence. “With great sorrow, I follow the tragic news coming from Sudan, particularly from the city of El-Fasher in the afflicted northern Darfur region,” he said.

He condemned the widespread atrocities, denouncing “indiscriminate violence against women and children, attacks on unarmed civilians, and serious obstacles to humanitarian action” that have inflicted “unacceptable suffering to a population already exhausted by long months of conflict.”

Renewing his call for peace, Pope Leo XIV made a “heartfelt appeal to the parties involved for a ceasefire and the urgent opening of humanitarian corridors.”

This is not the first time the pontiff has drawn attention to the worsening crisis. In September, he urged world leaders and international organisations to step up diplomatic efforts to “end this humanitarian catastrophe” and ensure that aid could reach those in need.

Sudan’s conflict, which erupted in April 2023, has killed tens of thousands, displaced millions, and triggered what the United Nations describes as the world’s largest displacement and hunger crisis.

Despite repeated attempts by global powers to mediate peace between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese army, fighting continues unabated.

In late October, the RSF captured the strategic city of El-Fasher, toppling the army’s final stronghold in Darfur after an 18-month siege marked by starvation, bombardment, and widespread civilian suffering.

Since the city’s fall, reports have surfaced of summary executions, sexual violence, attacks on humanitarian workers, and mass looting, while communication networks remain largely shut down, further isolating the region from the outside world.