Pope Leo XIV Delivers First Easter Address

Pope Leo XIV presided over his first Easter Mass as pontiff on April 5, 2026, using the occasion to deliver a resounding call for global peace and the cessation of conflicts worldwide.

Addressing thousands of worshippers gathered in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, the first U.S.-born pope urged those with the authority to initiate wars to instead choose peace. The service concluded with the delivery of the Urbi et Orbi blessing, a traditional address directed to the city of Rome and the world.

The pontiff’s address focused heavily on the dangers of global indifference to violence. He stated that the world is becoming accustomed to violence and resigning itself to the deaths of thousands of people.

Call for De-escalation and Nonviolence

During the address, Pope Leo XIV called for an end to the desire for domination, power, and conflict. He specifically requested that those possessing weapons lay them down and that global leaders prioritize peace over war.

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

Pope Leo XIV

The pope drew a connection between the Easter narrative and the concept of nonviolence, noting that Jesus remained entirely nonviolent when facing suffering and the crucifixion.

While the pope has previously been a vocal critic of the Iran war and has used other public addresses to denounce global conflicts and urge de-escalation, he departed from recent tradition during this Easter message by not explicitly naming any specific country or conflict.

Commemoration and Ceremony

The service included a tribute to the pontiff’s predecessor, Pope Francis, who passed away shortly after delivering his own final Easter Sunday address the previous year.

The ceremony in St. Peter’s Square featured extensive floral decorations, including rows of daffodils and thousands of white, red, and purple flowers. Pope Leo XIV presided over the Mass from the central loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica, where he was framed by white roses and used hyssop sprigs to sprinkle holy water.

The call for peace coincided with Easter celebrations taking place among Christians in several conflict-affected regions, including Gaza, Jerusalem, and Tehran.