Pope Francis begs Putin to end war in Ukraine | USA TODAY - Video

Speaking to a crowd at St. Peter's Square, Pope Francis called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to stop the violence in Ukraine.

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Pope Francis on Sunday appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin for a cease-fire, imploring him to “stop this spiral of violence and death” in Ukraine and denouncing the “absurd” risks of nuclear war. Francis uttered his strongest plea yet about the 7-month-old "horror.”

The pope, speaking to a Sunday crowd at St. Peter's Square. also called on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to “be open” to serious peace proposals. “How the war is going in Ukraine has become so grave, devastating and threatening that it sparks great worry,” Francis said.

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