People take images with their phones of Pope Francis before Vespers at the Jeronimos Monastery in Lisbon, Aug 2, 2023. Pope Francis has started his five-day pastoral visit to Portugal that includes his participation at the 37th World Youth Day, and a pilgrimage to the holy shrine of Fatima. (PHOTO / AP)
LISBON – Europe must step into its role as a peacemaker and bridge-builder to end the crisis in Ukraine, Pope Francis said here on Wednesday.
"The world needs the real Europe. It needs its role as a builder of bridges and peacemaker in Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean, Africa, and the Middle East," said Pope Francis in a speech during his visit to Portugal on the occasion of World Youth Day (WYD).
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In his first WYD speech, the Pope said that Europe will be able to open "pathways of dialogue and inclusion, developing a diplomacy of peace that extinguishes conflicts and calms tensions".