Pope Francis pleads for world to erase war before it erases human history

Pope Francis on Sunday issued an urgent plea for humanity “to abolish war, to erase it from human history before it erases human history,” marking one month of fighting in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Francis issued his call from St. Peter’s Square in Rome, addressing pilgrims at the Sunday Angelus prayers.

Francis, who did not name Russia or its leader Vladimir Putin in his comments, called the invasion “the beginning of this cruel and senseless war,” a conflict that “represents a defeat for everyone, for every one of us,” according...