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Pope Leo Calls on World Leaders to End Wars in Easter Message
Pope Leo delivered his Easter message on Sunday, urging global leaders to cease conflicts and abandon pursuits of power and domination. He emphasized nonviolence in line with the Easter story and called for those with weapons to lay them down. The pope also announced a prayer vigil for peace on April 11.
Apr 5, 9:53 AM·2m read1 source
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Pope Leo addressed thousands gathered in St. Peter's Square on Sunday during his Easter message, known as the Urbi et Orbi blessing. He called on world leaders to end ongoing conflicts and to forgo any plans for power, conquest, or domination. The message, delivered from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, was described as brief and direct.
In the address, Pope Leo stated that people are becoming accustomed to violence and indifferent to it. ' and urged those with the power to initiate wars to choose peace instead. The pope linked these appeals to the Easter narrative, noting that Jesus rose from the dead three days after his crucifixion without resisting his execution, portraying Christ as entirely nonviolent.
Pope Leo concluded the message by saying, 'On this day of celebration, let us abandon every desire for conflict, domination, and power, and implore the Lord to grant his peace to a world ravaged by wars.' He offered Easter greetings in 10 languages, including Latin, Arabic, and Chinese. The square was decorated with thousands of brightly colored flowers for the holiday.
This Easter message follows recent statements by Pope Leo on global conflicts. On Saturday night, during the Easter vigil sermon, he encouraged people not to become numb to the scale of worldwide conflicts but to actively work for peace. Earlier on Tuesday, he made a direct appeal to U.S. President Donald Trump to find an 'off-ramp' to end the Iran war, according to CBC reports.
Pope Leo, the first U.S. pope, has increased his criticisms of violent conflicts in recent weeks, including specific mentions of the Iran war. The Vatican has not detailed immediate follow-up actions beyond the announced prayer vigil. This event occurs amid ongoing international tensions, affecting millions displaced by wars in regions such as the Middle East and beyond, with potential diplomatic implications for global leaders responding to such papal calls.
Looking ahead, Pope Leo plans to return to St. Peter's Basilica on April 11 for a prayer vigil focused on peace. Such gatherings aim to foster dialogue and reflection on conflict resolution. The pope's messages highlight the Catholic Church's longstanding role in advocating for nonviolence and humanitarian efforts worldwide.
