Pope Appeals for Sudan Corridors
Pope Leo XIV on Sunday appealed for the opening of humanitarian corridors to protect civilians trapped in Sudan’s intensifying conflict, directing particular attention to the besieged city of El-Obeid where drone attacks have raised fears of a deepening catastrophe.
Speaking at the conclusion of the Angelus prayer in St. Peter’s Square, the pontiff said he was following with concern the tragic situation across Sudan, especially in El-Obeid, the largest city in the Kordofan region. The city has faced sustained drone strikes in recent weeks that have disrupted essential services and left residents short of food, water and medical supplies. These developments prompted the United Nations to issue a red alert, describing the unfolding conditions as a potential humanitarian disaster.
In expressing his spiritual closeness to the people of Sudan, Leo renewed his call for those in authority to guarantee safe passage for civilians. He simultaneously urged the international community to support efforts toward an immediate ceasefire, and invited the faithful to pray that those who suffer might find sustenance, that the hearts of those who sow violence might be converted, and that the long-awaited peace might finally arrive.
The conflict between Sudan’s regular army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces erupted in April 2023 and has since produced what the United Nations characterises as the world’s largest displacement and hunger crises. More than 14 million people have been uprooted, with millions facing acute food insecurity after more than three years of fighting. El-Obeid occupies a strategic position along a key corridor linking central Sudan to the western Darfur region, making control of the city a significant military objective and placing its civilian population under prolonged pressure.
Reports from the area describe months of siege-like conditions in which infrastructure has been damaged, supplies have dwindled and the risk of further escalation remains high. The intensity of recent attacks has drawn renewed international attention to a war that has already exacted a heavy toll in lives and livelihoods, yet continues with limited progress toward a negotiated end.
In the same address the Pope also voiced concern over the ongoing violence between Ukraine and Russia, calling for respect for international humanitarian law and an end to attacks on civilians. He stressed that the time had come to halt the spiral of violence and allow diplomacy and dialogue to open a path toward peace.
The dual appeals underscored the pontiff’s consistent emphasis on protecting non-combatants amid protracted conflicts. While the situation in Sudan has received comparatively less sustained global focus than other crises, the combination of mass displacement, famine risks and the specific threat to El-Obeid has elevated the urgency of the papal message. Humanitarian organisations have repeatedly highlighted the difficulty of delivering aid under current conditions, reinforcing the practical importance of secure corridors if civilian suffering is to be alleviated.
