Pope Leo XIV has once again appealed for an immediate ceasefire in Sudan and the swift establishment of humanitarian corridors to ease what he described as the “unacceptable suffering” of civilians enduring the country’s devastating civil war.
Speaking during his Angelus address at Saint Peter’s Square on Sunday, the pontiff expressed deep sorrow over the deteriorating situation in Sudan, particularly in the war-ravaged city of El-Fasher in northern Darfur.
“With great sorrow, I follow the tragic news coming from Sudan, particularly from the city of El-Fasher in the afflicted northern Darfur region,” Pope Leo said, condemning the “indiscriminate violence against women and children, attacks on unarmed civilians, and serious obstacles to humanitarian action” that have left the population in dire straits.
The pope urged all parties to halt hostilities and to “urgently open humanitarian corridors” to allow aid to reach those in need. He stressed that the people of Sudan, already exhausted by months of relentless conflict, must not be abandoned to their suffering.
This renewed appeal comes after the pope’s earlier call in September, when he urged world leaders and relevant stakeholders to intensify diplomatic efforts to “end this humanitarian catastrophe” and guarantee the safe delivery of aid to affected areas.
Sudan’s ongoing conflict, which erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths, millions displaced, and one of the worst hunger and displacement crises in modern history.
In late October, the RSF captured El-Fasher, driving government forces out of their final stronghold in Darfur after an 18-month siege marked by relentless bombardment and widespread starvation. Since the city’s fall, reports have surfaced of summary executions, sexual assaults, attacks on aid workers, looting, and abductions, while much of the region remains cut off from communication and outside assistance.
What you should know
Pope Leo XIV has been one of the most consistent global voices urging peace in Sudan.
His latest plea underscores the urgency of addressing the humanitarian catastrophe in Darfur, where millions are trapped without aid, enduring hunger, displacement, and violence amid the world’s most neglected conflict.
