Pope Leo Urges World Leaders to End Wars in Easter Message

Pope Leo XIV used his first Easter Sunday message as head of the Catholic Church on April 5, 2026, to call for an immediate end to global conflicts and a renunciation of conquest, power, and domination by world leaders.

Speaking from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to thousands gathered in the square, the pontiff urged those with the authority to initiate warfare to instead prioritize peace through dialogue rather than force.

Appeal for Global Peace and Nonviolence

The Pope’s address, known as the Urbi et Orbi blessing, was described as unusually brief and direct. He called for the abandonment of desires for conflict and domination, asking for peace in a world he described as ravaged by wars and marked by indifference.

Let those who have weapons lay them down. Let those who have the power to unleash wars choose peace. Not a peace imposed by force, but through dialogue. Not with the desire to dominate others, but to encounter them.

Pope Leo XIV

Leo XIV linked the message of Easter to the concept of nonviolence, stating that the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who did not resist his execution by crucifixion, demonstrates that the power of Easter is entirely nonviolent.

Criticism of Global Indifference

During the celebrations, the Pope echoed a phrase used by the late Pope Francis regarding the globalization of indifference. He expressed concern that people are becoming accustomed to violence and resigning themselves to it.

This theme was also present during the Easter vigil Mass held at St. Peter’s Basilica on April 4, 2026, where Pope Leo led Catholics into the holiday by urging the world not to grow numb to the scale of ongoing conflicts.

Diplomatic Focus and the Iran War

While the Urbi et Orbi blessing did not name specific conflicts, the Pope has recently emerged as an outspoken critic of the Iran war. He has spent recent weeks forcefully decrying violent global conflicts.

On April 1, 2026, the pontiff made a rare direct appeal to U.S. President Donald Trump, urging the leader to find an off-ramp to bring the Iran war to an end.

Easter Observances and Future Actions

The Easter Sunday event included several multilingual greetings delivered by Pope Leo in ten different languages, including Arabic, Chinese, and Latin.

The pontiff concluded his message by announcing a follow-up event to continue the appeal for peace. He is scheduled to return to St. Peter’s Basilica on April 11, 2026, to host a special prayer vigil for peace.