Pope Leo XIV has stated that while the Vatican will continue to advocate for peace, it is less realistic for the Holy See to act as a formal mediator in conflicts such as the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.
In excerpts from an interview published on Sunday by Crux, a Catholic news outlet, the pope clarified early speculation about the Vatican’s potential role in brokering peace in the conflict.
“I’d make a distinction in terms of the voice of the Holy See in advocating for peace and a role as mediator, which I think is very different and is not as realistic as the first one,” he said in the interview with Crux senior correspondent Elise Ann Allen.
Pope Leo XIV, elected in May as the first American pontiff, explained that the Vatican is working hard to maintain a position of neutrality. “Some things I’ve said have been interpreted in one way or the other, and that’s all right, but I think that the realistic part of it [mediation] is not primary right now,” he noted.
The pope’s comments come amid continued international calls for peace in Eastern Europe. While previous popes have sometimes played roles in diplomatic efforts, Leo emphasized the limits of such involvement, particularly in today’s geopolitics.
In the same interview, the pontiff turned his attention to rising global income inequality and its impact on social and political divisions. Drawing attention to the gap between executives and workers, Pope Leo remarked: “CEOs that 60 years ago might have been making four to six times more than what the workers are receiving — the last figure I saw is 600 times more.”
He also commented on reports that Tesla CEO Elon Musk could become the world’s first trillionaire under a new compensation package. “What does that mean, and what’s that about?” the pope asked. “If that is the only thing that has value anymore, then we’re in big trouble.”
Pope Leo’s remarks were part of a series of interviews conducted for an upcoming authorized biography by Ms. Allen, set to be published in Spanish this week. English and Portuguese editions are expected early next year.
Reflecting on his early months in office, the Chicago-born pope — who previously served in Peru for two decades — shared his concerns about the current state of multilateral cooperation. He was especially critical of the United Nations, saying it has not been effective in its intended role.
“In theory, the United Nations should be the place where many of these issues are dealt with,” he said. “Unfortunately, it seems to be generally recognised that the United Nations, at least at this moment in time, has lost its ability to bring people together on multilateral issues.”
The pope’s candid remarks mark a clear-eyed view of the Vatican’s role in a complex global landscape — one in which moral leadership, he suggests, may be more impactful than direct mediation.
