During the urbi et orbi message, the American pope launched a poignant plea at Saint Peter’s Square for an immediate end to conflicts worldwide.
For Easter, Pope Leon XIV declared war on war but with the weapons of peace. From the grand balcony of St. Peter’s Square, during the celebration of the first Easter of his pontificate, he first let out a powerful cry in an uncommon tone since his election on May 8, 2025: “Let those who have weapons lay them down! Let those with the power to start wars choose peace! Not a peace imposed by force, but through dialogue! Not with the desire to dominate the other, but to meet them!” He then summoned the entire Catholic Church to implore peace the following Saturday: “I invite everyone to join me at the prayer vigil for peace that we will celebrate here, at St. Peter’s Square, next Saturday, April 11.” He also denounced the temptation of “indifference” towards wars and their deadly violence and “the economic and social consequences they engender and that everyone feels nonetheless.”
The force by which Christ was resurrected is completely non-violent, the Pope argued. He compared this force to a “grain of wheat” that is buried but eventually pushes its way through the soil to become a “golden ear.” This “force” of God, he added, is also similar to a “human heart offended” that “rejects the instinct of revenge” and chooses to “pray for the one who offended.”
Indeed, the true force that brings peace to humanity, as reiterated by the head of the Catholic Church, is one that fosters respectful relationships at all levels: between individuals, families, social groups, and nations. This force does not seek to enforce its own agenda but aims to contribute to formulating and achieving it with others, striving for the common good.
The Pope’s message primarily targeted all conflicts around the world but particularly aimed to address those who have triggered the war inflaming the Middle East. While he did not directly name the United States and its president, his remarks on the recent conflict with Iran marked a formal and public disapproval that contrasts with his usually reserved stance on such matters.
He highlighted the importance of dialogue as the royal path advocated by the Church, only accepting the use of armed force in cases of legitimate defense and as a last resort after all diplomatic negotiations have failed. Notably, he emphasized the critical need for proportionality between the aggressor’s firepower and that of the defending party.
The Pope concluded his Easter message by urging a shift away from indifference towards wars and advocating for a spirit of peace that transforms hearts. He called for a collective conversion to Christ’s peace, asking people to abandon quarrels, domination, and power struggles, while imploring the Lord to grant peace to a world marred by wars and marked by hatred and indifference that render people powerless against evil.
