Pope Francis I appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin to "stop this spiral of violence and death." The text of the pontiff's appeal was published on the website of Vatican News.

"My appeal is directed above all to the president of the Russian Federation, imploring him to stop, also for the love of his people, this spiral of violence and death," the pope said in the address.

Francis the first also appealed to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy “be open” to serious peace proposals.

Pope Francis I called on all participants in international life and political leaders of states to do everything possible to end the war, not to allow themselves to be dragged into a dangerous escalation, to promote and support dialogue initiatives, to allow the younger generations to breathe the holy air of peace, not the polluted air of war, which is madness, the pontiff noted.