Pope Leo XIVWhen the incense cleared and the echoes of the ancient Latin liturgy faded inside the grandeur of St. Peter’s Basilica, a new voice emerged from the altar, a voice not just of tradition, but of transformation. Pope Leo, newly vested as the spiritual leader of over 1.3 billion Catholics worldwide, stood with the weight of history on his shoulders and a message that resonated far beyond Vatican walls: “The Church must illuminate the dark nights of this world”. It was a poetic, yet piercing call not just to the faithful, but to the fractured world watching, a world marred by the blood-soaked streets of Ukraine and Sudan and many others suffocating under the smog of war, tyranny and hopelessness.
But what does it mean to illuminate darkness when the world is ablaze? How can a pontiff whose power is primarily moral, not military, shift the course of geopolitical storms? The answer may lie not in the might of armies, but in the influence of conscience, and Pope Leo, if he chooses to wield it fully, could emerge as a force that shapes diplomacy, reconciles the estranged and demands peace from those who profit from conflict.
How might the Pope leverage his unique blend of spiritual authority and soft political power to bring clarity, pressure and hope to the world’s darkest theatres of war, particularly the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Sudan?
The Papacy as a Global Power Broker
While the Vatican boasts no navy or nuclear arsenal, it commands a different kind of power, one rooted in moral authority, global reach and diplomatic neutrality. The Holy See maintains formal diplomatic relations with over 180 countries and holds Permanent Observer status at the United Nations. This geopolitical positioning gives the Pope a platform from which he can influence decision-making processes, act as a mediator in crises and amplify voices often ignored on the world stage.
Historically, pontiffs have used this soft power to varying degrees of success. Pope John Paul II’s behind-the-scenes influence contributed to the fall of Communism in Eastern Europe. Pope Francis, more recently, played a key role in facilitating dialogue between the United States and Cuba in 2014. Pope Leo inherits this tradition, but at a time when the global order is even more precarious and moral clarity is desperately needed.
Russia and Ukraine
The war in Ukraine remains Europe’s bloodiest conflict since World War II. Civilians have been massacred, entire cities levelled and millions displaced. Pope Francis condemned the invasion, labeling it “a sacrilegious aggression”, yet critics argue his stance has been too diplomatically balanced, often appearing to equivocate or avoid directly naming President Vladimir Putin as the chief aggressor. Pope Leo must not make the same mistake.
The new pontiff has an opportunity to recalibrate the Church’s approach, maintaining its moral neutrality without lapsing into moral relativism. A clear and unequivocal condemnation of Russia’s invasion, accompanied by open solidarity with the Ukrainian people, would send a powerful message. He can engage Eastern Orthodox leaders, many of whom have strained relationships with the Kremlin-backed Russian Orthodox Church, and create a united front of Christian leaders calling for an end to hostilities.
Moreover, the Pope can serve as a mediator-in-waiting, positioning the Vatican as a venue for backchannel diplomacy. Given that both Ukrainian and Russian leaders still respect the Church’s moral influence, even if they don’t agree with it, Vatican diplomacy could play a pivotal role in eventual ceasefire negotiations.
But Pope Leo must walk a fine line: if he is too critical of Moscow, he risks alienating the Russian Orthodox faithful and leaders. If he is too conciliatory, he dilutes the Vatican’s moral gravitas. A strategy of “principled neutrality”, calling out injustice by name, while offering unconditional avenues for peace, may be the best path forward.
Sudan
While Ukraine dominates headlines, Sudan’s civil war has quietly spiraled into one of the worst humanitarian disasters in the world. Since April 2023, a brutal power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has displaced over 10 million people and left thousands dead. Ethnic cleansing, sexual violence and famine haunt the population, yet the international response has been muted. This is where Pope Leo’s voice is desperately needed.
The Vatican’s presence in Africa has historically been strong, and the Catholic Church commands substantial influence in Sudan’s neighboring states, especially South Sudan and the Central African Republic. Pope Leo could dispatch envoys to engage regional bishops, leverage existing humanitarian networks, and offer the Vatican as a neutral ground for dialogue between Sudan’s warring factions. A papal visit to refugee camps or conflict zones could draw the world’s attention and force donor nations and international institutions to act.
Beyond visibility, the Pope can pressure arms suppliers, some of whom are global powers in the West and Middle East, to halt the flow of weapons that perpetuate the violence. His role here is not to engage in the political minutiae of Sudan’s leadership vacuum but to advocate forcefully for human dignity, protection of civilians, and a rapid humanitarian response.
A Vision for Peace
For Pope Leo’s words to matter, they must be backed by sustained engagement. His papacy should initiate a Pontifical Commission for Peace and Mediation, an office that could partner with international institutions, faith-based groups and even secular NGOs to build peace infrastructure in conflict zones. This commission could serve as a bridge between religious diplomacy and realpolitik, offering not just moral rebukes, but practical tools for negotiation, reconciliation and post-conflict recovery.
Furthermore, Pope Leo could convene an Interfaith Summit for Global Peace, inviting not just Christian leaders, but Muslim, Jewish, Hindu and secular actors from war-torn regions. This symbolic act could break down ideological walls and refocus global attention on shared human suffering rather than geopolitical gamesmanship.
In his weekly Angelus addresses, Leo might dedicate regular segments to specific global conflicts, forcing a distracted world to pay attention. His encyclicals, formal papal writings, could frame war as not just a political failure, but a spiritual crisis that demands global repentance and reform.
Risks and Realities
Of course, there are limitations. The Pope’s influence, while immense, is not universal. Authoritarian leaders are unlikely to be swayed by sermons. Religious diplomacy can be viewed with suspicion by secular regimes. And even within the Catholic Church, there are ideological divisions that may hamper the Pope’s ability to unite his flock behind political action.
Besides, the papal approach must be careful not to veer into neocolonial perceptions, particularly in Africa, where Western involvement is often viewed with skepticism. Leo must empower local religious leaders and institutions rather than impose a Vatican-centric agenda. But the risks of silence are far greater.
Conclusion
In a world where darkness has become familiar, where war, displacement and despair have numbed the conscience of nations, Pope Leo has lit a candle. But a candle alone is not enough; it must be carried into the storm, held high and steady, even as the wind howls.
His first Mass was more than a ceremonial rite. It was a mission statement. Now, the world watches not just for what he will say, but for what he will do.
Can one man, clothed in white, truly change the course of global conflicts? Perhaps not alone. But with courage, clarity, and compassion, Pope Leo could help rekindle the world’s fading faith in peace, not through power, but through principle.
The writer is a journalist, international affairs columnist and a journalism educator with a PhD in Journalism. Contact: [email protected]
