Issued a call Wednesday for a world without antisemitism, prejudice, oppression and persecution, then linked the message to International Holocaust Remembrance Day—observed the day before.

Speaking at the close of his weekly audience in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall, the pope recalled the Jan. 27 commemoration honoring the millions of Jews and others murdered.

Pope Leo called it an “” and urged the international community to stay vigilant to ensure “the horror of genocide may never again be inflicted upon any people” and that societies rooted in “mutual respect and the common good” can be built.

“I ask the Almighty for the gift of a world no longer prejudice, oppression and persecution against any human being,” the pope said.

International Holocaust Remembrance Day marks the 1945 anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.

The Holocaust saw the systematic murder of 6 million Jews and millions of others during World War II.

On Jan. 27, as he left his Castel Gandolfo residence, Leo also spoke to reporters.

When asked about rising tensions in the and the U.S. aircraft carrier deployment to the region amid protests and killings by Iran’s regime, Leo emphasized the need “to pray hard for peace.”

“We little ones can raise our voices and always seek dialogue over violence to resolve problems—especially on this day that commemorates the Shoah,” he added.

In an X post marking the Holocaust memorial, Pope Leo reaffirmed the to the principles outlined in Nostra Aetate, the Second Vatican Council’s declaration rejecting all forms of antisemitism.

He stressed the church “rejects any discrimination or harassment based on ethnicity, language, nationality or religion” and encouraged dialogue over violence as a conflict-solving tool.

Digital has reached out to the Vatican for comment.