Pope Leo XIV has asked Catholics and other people of faith to dedicate Friday, Aug. 22, to fasting and prayer for peace, highlighting the continuing wars in Ukraine, the Holy Land and other conflict zones. The pontiff made the appeal at the close of his weekly general audience in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall on Wednesday, saying the global observance should petition God to "grant us peace and justice and dry the tears of those who suffer." The chosen date coincides with the Feast of the Queenship of Mary, which Leo called a fitting occasion to intensify pleas for an end to violence. The first U.S.-born pope, elected in May, has repeatedly urged cease-fires and dialogue in Ukraine and Gaza and met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy earlier this summer. Wednesday’s message came as Leo returned from a brief stay at Castel Gandolfo, underscoring his intent to keep peace efforts at the forefront of his papacy.