Pope Leo decries ramp-up in Ukraine war, calls for 'weapons to fall silent'

LUANDA, April 19 - Pope Leo on Sunday decried the intensification of the war in Ukraine, calling "for the weapons to fall silent and for the path of dialogue to be followed."

The pope made the appeal after a Mass outside Angola's capital Luanda that drew roughly 100,000 people.

The first U.S. pope also praised the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, to end fighting between Israeli forces and Iran-backed Hezbollah, as a "reason for hope."

(Reporting by Joshua McElwee; Editing by Robbie Corey-Boulet and Jane Merriman)