On Sunday, Pope Leo XIV expressed concern over what he described as the tragic situation in Sudan, highlighting in particular the deteriorating conditions in the city of El Obeid in North Kordofan state, and calling for the opening of humanitarian corridors for civilians and support for efforts aimed at achieving an immediate ceasefire.
In remarks following the Angelus prayer in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, the Pope said, “I continue to follow the tragic situation in Sudan with concern, particularly in the city of El Obeid,” expressing his spiritual solidarity with the Sudanese people.
The Pope renewed his appeal to ensure that humanitarian corridors are opened for the civilian population and called on the international community to support efforts aimed at achieving an immediate ceasefire.
He added: “Let us pray that the Lord may sustain those who are suffering, change the hearts of those who sow violence, and grant the long-awaited peace.”
The Pope’s appeal comes at a time when the city of El Obeid and large areas of the Kordofan region are witnessing a growing military escalation, amid international warnings that hundreds of thousands of civilians are facing mounting risks due to the fighting and shortages of food, water, and basic services.
El Obeid at the Heart of the Crisis
The Pope’s direct reference to El Obeid takes on special significance, as the capital of North Kordofan has, in recent months, become one of the most prominent hotspots of the humanitarian and security crisis in Sudan.
On July 17, the World Food Program warned of a worsening crisis of displacement and hunger in El Obeid, noting that the city is hosting hundreds of thousands of displaced people, which is placing significant strain on resources and services amid shortages of food, fuel, and water.
The United Nations also warned of escalating fighting in and around the city, as well as the risk that a new major population center in Sudan could be exposed to widespread violence, calling on all parties to protect civilians and allow humanitarian aid to reach them quickly, safely, and without hindrance.
Data from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) indicate that since May, North Kordofan has seen a rise in child casualties as a result of drone strikes and other acts of violence, while homes, schools, health facilities, water networks, and markets have sustained damage, further increasing the strain on the civilian population.
Growing Calls to End the War
The Pope’s appeal coincides with mounting international pressure and warnings regarding the risks facing civilians in Kordofan, as well as calls to cease hostilities and prevent a repeat of the violence seen in other parts of Sudan.
The UN Secretary-General had called on both sides of the conflict—the Sudanese Army and the Rapid Support Forces—to engage in international efforts aimed at de-escalation and reaching a negotiated settlement to end the war, amid UN warnings of a repeat of the patterns of violence witnessed in El Fasher and El Obeid.
Pope Leo XIV’s call for an immediate ceasefire takes on added significance given that the Sudanese war has been ongoing since April 2023, resulting in a humanitarian crisis, widespread displacement, and the collapse of basic services in many parts of the country.
UNICEF estimates that some 33.7 million people in Sudan will need humanitarian assistance in 2026—about half of them children—in what is one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises.
The Pope’s appeal brings Sudan back into the international spotlight at a time when attention is increasingly turning to El Obeid, amid fears that the spread of fighting around the city could lead to a new humanitarian disaster in a war that has entered its fourth year with no clear end in sight.
