Speaking during his weekly General Audience at the Paul VI Hall in Vatican City, the pontiff announced a call for a global day of prayer and fasting on Friday, August 22, urging Catholics and people of goodwill around the world to unite for peace.

“I ask you to include in your intentions the supplication for the gift of peace a peace that is disarmed and disarming for the whole world, especially for Ukraine and the Middle East,” Pope Leo XIV said, as reported by Vatican News.

This is the latest in a series of appeals the Pope has made in recent months amid rising global tensions. He has consistently condemned violence and the humanitarian toll of ongoing wars, notably in Ukraine, where conflict with Russia continues into its fourth year, and in Gaza, where Israel’s military campaign has caused unprecedented civilian devastation.

The situation in Ukraine remains volatile as well, with ongoing Russian military operations continuing to displace civilians and destroy critical infrastructure. Peace efforts have stalled amid continued fighting along the eastern front.

Pope Leo XIV’s call for a day of reflection and spiritual action comes as global leaders face mounting pressure to pursue diplomatic solutions to long-standing conflicts.

The allegations stem from a series of violent, ethnically motivated attacks carried out by the RSF and their Arab militia allies against the Masalit people in West Darfur during 2023. Sudan’s acting justice minister, Muawia Osman, argued before the ICJ that the UAE is complicit in these atrocities. He pointed to the fact that the RSF, which is believed to be largely composed of Arab fighters from Darfur, has received support from the UAE in the form of arms and resources.

The United States has already recognized these attacks as genocide, having made an official determination in January. Sudan accuses the UAE of arming and supporting the RSF, which has been engaged in a brutal two-year civil war against Sudanese government forces. Although the UAE strongly denies these allegations, both U.N. experts and U.S. lawmakers have expressed concerns that the claims are credible.

In response to Sudan’s legal filing, Reem Ketait, a senior official from the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, dismissed the accusations, calling them a “political game” and a “baseless PR stunt.” She further stated that no credible evidence had been presented to support Sudan’s allegations.

Given the lengthy timeline for cases before the ICJ, Sudan has requested emergency measures to prevent further escalation of violence while the legal process unfolds. These measures are designed to prevent immediate harm and ensure that the situation does not worsen while the court considers the case. The UAE is expected to present its defense later on Thursday, likely arguing that the ICJ lacks jurisdiction in the matter.