Evening Brief: A Million Youth Flock to See Pope Leo, Hamas Releases Disturbing New Hostage Video, Sochi Burns

· Guy D. McCardle

A fire burns in the Adler District of Sochi as the result of a drone attack. Image Credit: Caucasian Knot

More than a million young Catholics from around the world packed into the fields of Tor Vergata, just outside Rome, for an open-air Mass with Pope Leo XIV—the biggest turnout yet of his papacy. This event marked the high point of the weeklong Jubilee of Youth. Many had camped out overnight, eager to be part of the celebration and hear directly from the pontiff.

Pope Leo delivered a message that was both hopeful and challenging. He told the crowd that buying stuff, hoarding it, and chasing comfort won’t cut it. What really matters, he said, is what brings us closer to God and to one another. His call to action was simple: let your faith show, and help others. He urged the youth to prioritize compassion and solidarity over materialism.

In a world fraught with war and division, Leo didn’t mince words. He reminded everyone that peace is built through dialogue, not violence. He called out global hot spots—Gaza, Ukraine, and elsewhere—standing in solidarity with young people suffering in those conflict zones. To him, the crowd wasn’t just a sign of faith—it was proof that a better, more united world is possible.

“You are seeds of hope,” he told them. Seeds that should take root in families, neighborhoods, and entire nations. He ended by looking ahead to the next World Youth Day in Seoul in 2027, challenging these young believers to carry that hope forward.
In short, Leo XIV sent them home with a mission: don’t just believe—act. Let faith shape how you live and how you treat others. That’s the kind of message that sticks.

 

Starved and Exploited: Hamas Releases Disturbing Hostage Videos as Tensions Erupt

Hamas has released a pair of brutal new hostage videos, showing two Israeli men—Evyatar David and Rom Braslavski—who were kidnapped during the October 7, 2023, attacks. The footage is gut-wrenching. Both men look like they’ve been through hell. Emaciated, hollow-eyed, and barely able to speak, they appear to be on the brink of death.

Twenty-four-year-old Evyatar David is seen digging what he believes could be his own grave. His bones jut through his skin. He says he’s barely eaten in days.

Rom Braslavski doesn’t say much, but his frail body speaks volumes. This is psychological warfare, plain and simple.

The reaction in Israel has been swift and furious. David’s family described him as a “living skeleton buried alive” and warned that he may have only days left if nothing changes. Prime Minister Netanyahu called out Hamas, accusing them of starving the hostages as a deliberate act of cruelty and propaganda, all while Israel continues to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza. The videos have triggered protests across the country, with Israelis demanding action and the safe return of their people.

All this is unfolding against the backdrop of a worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza itself. Civilians there are dying from hunger, trapped in a warzone where food and medicine are scarce and aid is choked off by the fighting. It’s a nightmare on both sides of the fence. But the deliberate starvation of hostages—putting them on camera as they waste away—is a new low. These videos aren’t just disturbing—they’re a cry for help, and a chilling reminder of how twisted this conflict has become.

 

Palestinian-American Father Dies in West Bank Blaze Allegedly Set by Israeli Settlers

Khamis Ayyad, a 41-year-old Palestinian-American, died recently in the West Bank after inhaling smoke from a fire that witnesses say was deliberately set by Israeli settlers. The deadly blaze broke out in the village of Silwad, and according to the Palestinian health ministry, Ayyad succumbed while trying to help others escape the flames. He had moved to the West Bank years ago with his wife and children but continued working remotely for a U.S.-based company. His family said he died trying to save lives—running toward the danger, not away from it.

The U.S. State Department confirmed the death of an American citizen in the area but didn’t release Ayyad’s name. Still, they condemned what they called “criminal violence” in the West Bank. Meanwhile, Israeli authorities say they’ve opened an investigation into the arson attack, but so far, no suspects have been named. Civil rights groups and members of the Palestinian-American community, particularly in Chicago—where Ayyad had raised five kids before relocating—are now calling on the U.S. Department of Justice to step in.

This isn’t an isolated case. Ayyad is the second American reported killed in West Bank violence in July alone. The region has been spiraling since the October 2023 conflict reignited tensions, and settler attacks have surged alongside ongoing clashes. For families like Ayyad’s, the political chaos has turned tragically personal.

 

Ukraine Hits Sochi Oil Depot in Overnight Drone Strike, Igniting Major Fire

A Ukrainian drone strike lit up the skies over Sochi on the night of August 2–3, hitting an oil depot and sparking a major fire. According to local reports, the blaze broke out after debris from a downed Ukrainian drone slammed into a fuel tank. The flames sent thick plumes of black smoke rolling over the Black Sea resort city, and Sochi Airport had to pause flights until things settled down. More than 120 firefighters were thrown into the fight, and thankfully, no one was hurt.

This wasn’t a one-off. Ukraine has been ramping up strikes on Russian energy infrastructure, and Sochi just joined the list. Other cities—Ryazan, Penza, Samara, Voronezh—have all been hit in recent weeks as part of Kyiv’s campaign to disrupt Russia’s fuel supply and military logistics.

Sochi, best known for hosting the 2014 Winter Olympics and catering to Russian vacationers, had mostly stayed out of the warzone spotlight—until now. Last month, Ukrainian drones targeted Sochi’s Adler district, leaving casualties behind. Now this latest strike shows that even Russia’s southern coastal strongholds aren’t off-limits.

Ukraine’s message is clear: nowhere is truly safe when you’re fueling a war. And the hits on Russian oil depots are about more than fire and smoke—they’re aimed straight at the engine of Moscow’s war machine.