Pope Leo XIV calls for dialogue in Tigray region

Pope Leo XIV called for all parties in the Tigray region to stop fighting and choose dialogue to resolve the crisis in Ethiopia. During a general audience on September 30, 2026, the pope expressed deep concern regarding renewed hostilities in Tigray and the neighboring Afar and Amhara regions. He stated that armed conflict worsens problems by causing death and destruction, and that only honest engagement can establish lasting peace.

The pope also urged the international community to provide timely humanitarian aid to those affected by the violence. This appeal follows warnings from Tesfaselassie Medhin, the Catholic bishop of Adigrat, regarding the total isolation of the region and the urgent need for humanitarian access.

The call for peace comes as tensions rise following a period of conflict between the Tigray People's Liberation Front and Ethiopian federal troops that ended with a peace deal in November 2022. Recent reports indicate renewed fighting, with Ethiopian military leadership suggesting external interference in the conflict.