Pope Leo has described the situation in Haiti as “increasingly desperate” amid escalating gang violence, as Kenya’s police deployment faces mounting pressure. This comes after Haiti’s government declared a three-month state of emergency in its central region due to a sharp escalation in gang violence.

• Pope Leo made a heartfelt appeal for the immediate release of hostages and called for international support to bring peace to Haiti.
• The state of emergency covers the West, Artibonite, and Center departments of Haiti, areas targeted by armed gangs leading to severe food shortages.
• Between October 2024 and the end of June 2025, over 1,000 people were killed, 200 injured, and 620 kidnapped in the Artibonite and Central departments, according to the United Nations human rights office.