Pope Leo urges world leaders to abandon weapons and embrace dialogue, calling for inner and global peace, and announces April 11 prayer vigil at St Peter’s Basilica, reports Asian Lite Newsdesk
On Easter Sunday, Pope Leo XIV delivered a passionate Urbi et Orbi message from St Peter’s Square, calling on global leaders to renounce violence and embrace dialogue.
“Let those who have weapons lay them down!” the Pope implored tens of thousands of pilgrims. He stressed that peace should not be imposed by force, but cultivated through encounter rather than domination.
Addressing the “ever-increasing globalisation of indifference,” Pope Leo warned that the world is becoming numb to the human cost of war. “We are growing accustomed to violence and resigning ourselves to it,” he said, highlighting the deaths, hatred, and division that conflicts sow, along with their long-term economic and social consequences.
The Pope framed his call for peace in the context of Christ’s resurrection, describing Jesus’ victory over death as an act of entirely nonviolent love. “The power with which Christ rose is like that of a grain of wheat, which grows by breaking through the earth,” he said. This, he explained, is the “true strength” that can bring lasting peace and foster healthy relationships at all levels—from individuals and families to nations.
Pope Leo also announced he will lead a prayer vigil for peace on Saturday, April 11, at Saint Peter’s Basilica. He urged all to allow the peace of Christ to transform their hearts, warning that Easter peace is more than just a “silence of weapons.”
“Let us abandon every desire for conflict, domination, and power, and entrust to the Lord all hearts that suffer,” the Pope said. His message underscored the moral responsibility of leaders and citizens alike to reject indifference and evil in a world still scarred by war.
The Pope’s Easter message comes amid rising global tensions and conflicts, as he continues the Catholic Church’s long-standing advocacy for nonviolence, reconciliation, and humanitarian action.
