Addressing his audience from his study window, the pontiff also expressed his support for the recent peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which was signed by their leaders on Saturday.
The Haitian government has declared a state of emergency in the central part of the nation, lasting for three months, amidst a rise in gang violence.
The area, which serves as Haiti’s primary food source, has been a target for gangs who have been violence against farmers or compelling them to leave their lands. The gangs have also attacked nearby communities.
According to the UN, from October 2024 to June 2025, there have been over 1,000 fatalities, more than 200 injuries, and 620 abductions in the departments of Artibonite and Central, as well as in adjacent regions. Furthermore, gang violence has led to the displacement of over 239,000 individuals in Haiti’s central area.
In late April, a significant number of people risked life and limb to cross the country’s largest river in a bid to escape the clutches of the gangs.
Source: http://www.africanews.com/2025/08/11/pope-leo-urges-end-to-violence-in-haiti/
