Pope Leo XIV continued his quest for peace on Easter Sunday, urging for an end to the multiple military conflicts throughout the world. In his first Easter as pope, Leo delivered the traditional Easter “Urbi et Orbi” blessing from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica before 50,000 people gathered in St. Peter’s Square. Leo called for “those who have weapons lay them down!”
He began by speaking about the spirituality of Easter, mentioning the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, and its relevance today, before discussing current geopolitical events.
“Easter is the victory of life over death, of light over darkness, of love over hatred,” said Leo. “It is a victory that came at a very high price: Christ, the Son of the living God had to die — and die on a cross — after suffering an unjust condemnation, being mocked and tortured, and shedding all his blood. As the true immolated Lamb, he took upon himself the sin of the world and thus freed us all — and with us, all creation — from the dominion of evil.”
“In the light of Easter, let us allow ourselves to be amazed by Christ!” said the pope. “Let us allow our hearts to be transformed by his immense love for us! 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!”
Leo lamented the current state of affairs in the world and acts of violence throughout the globe, stating that humanity has become too indifferent to war and bloodshed. He quoted Pope Francis’s prayer from last year’s Easter address as a reminder of this unfortunate phenomenon. These words would ultimately be from Francis’s last public appearance, as he died in the early morning of Easter Monday.
“We are growing accustomed to violence, resigning ourselves to it, and becoming indifferent,” said Leo. “Indifferent to the deaths of thousands of people. Indifferent to the repercussions of hatred and division that conflicts sow. Indifferent to the economic and social consequences they produce, which we all feel.”
“There is an ever-increasing ‘globalization of indifference,’ to borrow an expression dear to Pope Francis, who one year ago from this loggia addressed his final words to the world, reminding us: ‘What a great thirst for death, for killing, we witness each day in the many conflicts raging in different parts of the world!’”
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It was the second time in a week that the pontiff called for peace during a mass at the Vatican. During his Palm Sunday homily, Leo said that God “does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war.”
Leo’s latest call for peace came less than 48 hours after his Good Friday procession in which he carried a wooden cross for all 14 stations of the Way of the Cross at the Colosseum in Rome, Italy. He was the first pontiff to do so since Pope John Paul II in 1994, according to reports.
Leo concluded his Easter prayer, urging people to abandon a “desire for conflict” and reiterated his yearning for peace in the world.
“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 and marked by a hatred and indifference that make us feel powerless in the face of evil,” said the pope.