In November, Pope Francis had expressed his concern about the war between Russia and Ukraine, which he believes has caused a series of collateral crises around the world. He stated that the conflict is having "enormous repercussions" in North African countries, which depend on Ukraine and Russia for 80% of their grain. He also argued that migration is essential for the wellbeing of this area and cannot be stopped, urging all parties to find a common solution that encompasses various aspects and interests.

In addition, Pope Francis  had recalled a conversation he had with an unnamed head of state prior to the war in which he was warned that NATO was “barking at the gates of Russia”. He suggested that this provocation may have been responsible for Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, although he acknowledged that it was “perhaps somehow provoked”. The pontiff also compared the war to the Holodomor genocide of the 1930s, when Stalin's policies caused a devastating famine in Ukraine.

Pope Francis' message emphasizes his commitment to finding a peaceful resolution to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.