In his weekly general audience on September 3, 2025, Pope Leo XIV cast his gaze toward Sudan—a nation grappling with unrelenting turmoil. His voice, both solemn and urgent, carried the weight of a people battered by war, natural disaster, famine, and disease.
“Dramatic news is coming out of Sudan, particularly Darfur,” the Pope began, as he addressed crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square. In El Fasher, he spoke of countless civilians trapped by famine and violence. In the remote Marrah Mountains, he mourned the devastation of a catastrophic landslide in Tarasin—an event that may have claimed up to a thousand lives, though precise numbers remain uncertain due to the region’s inaccessibility .
As if those tragedies were not enough, a cholera outbreak now looms, threatening hundreds of thousands already weakened by adversity
Amid such distress, Pope Leo’s message was clear: desperation calls not for despair but for action. “I make a heartfelt appeal to those in positions of responsibility and to the international community to guarantee humanitarian corridors and implement a coordinated response to stop this humanitarian catastrophe,” he urged, calling for pathways of relief that cross battle lines and bear the weight of hope
Beyond immediate relief, the Pope stressed the need for a deeper, more lasting solution. He advocated for a “serious, sincere and inclusive dialogue” among Sudan’s warring factions to restore hope, dignity, and peace for its people
Earlier, his words had taken on a spiritual dimension, offering solace to families and communities shattered by the landslide. In English, he prayed for victims and implored the faithful worldwide to lift them up in prayer, invoking God’s love and the enduring power of hope even amid tragedy
Sudan has been embroiled in a devastating civil war since April 2023, ignited by a power struggle between the Sudanese Army and the Rapid Support Forces. The conflict has become a humanitarian disaster, with estimates indicating up to 150,000 fatalities, at least 12 million people displaced, and tens of millions in need of assistance
Efforts to deliver aid are severely hindered. El Fasher remains under siege, with aid deliveries nearly impossible. Across the country, basic services have collapsed, and food insecurity has become rampant, while epidemic threats like cholera intensify the danger
In this dire reality, Pope Leo XIV’s voice—and indeed his very pastoral authority—resonates as a call not just to Christian or religious communities, but to humanity as a whole.
His impassioned plea underscores an often-forgotten truth: compassion demands response. When the Pope stands not only as a spiritual guide but also as an advocate for global solidarity, it is a reminder that crises—whether born of war or nature—oblige us all to act beyond borders.
