Pope Francis demands immediate cease-fire to aid Yemen's war victims

Pope Francis appealed for an immediate cease‑fire in Yemen on Tuesday, urging all parties to end the war that has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions, and he also prayed for the victims of a terror attack on a Greek Orthodox church in Jordan last week. The pope made the remarks during a private audience with diplomats at the Vatican, where he asked leaders to protect civilians and allow humanitarian aid to flow unimpeded.

The conflict in Yemen has raged for more than a dozen years, leaving the country on the brink of collapse. The United Nations estimates that over 38,000 people have been killed and more than 24 million are in need of assistance. Recent UN‑backed talks in Riyadh have stalled, and the United States and Iran remain locked in a proxy struggle that fuels the fighting. The attack in Jordan, which killed at least 12 worshippers and wounded dozens, underscored the broader spread of extremist violence across the region, prompting the pope to link the two crises in his appeal.

In his address, the pope highlighted the human cost of the war, noting that children are the most vulnerable and that famine threatens to claim even more lives. He called on the Saudi‑led coalition and the Houthi rebels to return to negotiations and to respect the Geneva Conventions. A Vatican spokesperson said the Holy See would work with Catholic charities to deliver food, medicine and shelter to those in need. UN Secretary‑General António Guterres praised the pope’s “moral leadership” and urged the Security Council to adopt a new resolution that would pressure warring factions to accept a cease‑fire.

The next step is a high‑level UN meeting scheduled for next week in New York, where diplomats will discuss a possible cease‑fire framework and the deployment of additional peacekeepers. The Vatican plans to continue its diplomatic outreach, leveraging its global network of churches and NGOs to monitor the situation and support relief efforts. If the pope’s call gains traction, it could add moral weight to the push for a political solution and help prevent further loss of life in Yemen and the wider region.