Pope Leo Urges World Leaders to Choose Peace in Easter Address Amid Ongoing Conflicts

Pope Leo addressed world leaders during his Easter message on April 5, 2025, in St. Peter's Square, Vatican City, urging them to choose peace and lay down weapons. The speech, his first Easter address since becoming pope in May 2025, was delivered as the Urbi et Orbi blessing to the city and the world. He stated that people are growing accustomed to violence and becoming indifferent to it.

The pope exclaimed, 'Let those who have weapons lay them down! Let those who have the power to unleash wars choose peace!' He emphasized Jesus Christ's nonviolent nature in the Easter narrative and called for abandoning desires for conflict, domination, and power. The message implored the Lord to grant peace to a world ravaged by wars, though it did not mention specific conflicts.

This Easter address builds on Pope Leo's recent criticisms of global conflicts. On Palm Sunday, he cited a biblical passage from Isaiah, stating that God rejects prayers from those whose hands are full of blood. USA Today reported that the pope has become an outspoken critic of the Iran war, which began in late February 2025 and continues in the Middle East.

Late last month, on March 31, 2025, Pope Leo expressed hope that President Donald Trump is seeking an off-ramp from the Iran war. He committed to continuing calls for world leaders to return to dialogue and seek solutions to reduce violence. The pope described recent events in the Middle East as involving atrocious violence.

Reuters reported that Pope Leo urged leaders to end conflicts raging across the world and abandon schemes for power, conquest, or domination. No contradictions appear between sources on the core elements of the speech, though USA Today provided additional details on the pope's prior statements and the context of the Iran war.

The address occurred amid ongoing international tensions, with the Iran war marking a significant escalation since February 2025. Pope Leo's role as a moral voice on global issues has intensified since his election in May 2025. The Easter message aligns with his pattern of invoking religious texts to advocate for peace.