Pope Leo XIV delivered a powerful Easter Mass address on Sunday, calling on global leaders to abandon desires for conflict, domination, and power, according to the BBC. Thousands of worshippers gathered in St Peter’s Square to hear the first US-born pope deliver his message in his role as pontiff.

Pope’s Message of Peace

Framed by white roses on the central balcony of the Vatican’s basilica, the pope emphasized the importance of peace in a world ravaged by wars. ‘Let those who have weapons lay them down. Let those who have the power to unleash wars choose peace,’ he said.

Leo, who has become a vocal critic of the Iran war, has used recent public addresses to denounce global conflicts and urge de-escalation, but his Easter message was delivered as the world continues to grapple with ongoing tensions and violence across multiple regions.

A World Ravaged by War

‘We are growing accustomed to violence. Resigning ourselves to it. And becoming indifferent. Indifferent to the deaths of thousands of people,’ the pope said in his address, while this statement reflects his deep concern over the normalization of violence in the modern world.

During his sermon, the pope referenced the Easter story of Christ’s resurrection, emphasizing that Jesus was ‘entirely nonviolent’ in the face of suffering. This message resonated with the gathered crowd, who listened attentively as bells rang out across the Vatican.

St Peter’s Square was decorated with bright spring blooms, including rows of daffodils and thousands of purple, red, and white flowers arranged for the Easter Mass. The setting provided a vivid contrast to the somber themes of the pope’s message.

Pope’s Direct Appeal to Leaders

In a break with recent tradition, Pope Leo did not explicitly name any country or conflict in his message. However, he has previously made direct appeals to world leaders, including a rare direct appeal to Donald Trump on Tuesday, urging the US President to find an ‘off-ramp’ to end the conflict with Iran.

Leo has repeatedly denounced ongoing global conflicts in recent weeks, using a series of Holy Week addresses to warn against what he has described as a growing indifference to war and suffering. His Easter address continued this theme, urging believers not to feel numbed by the scale of global conflicts but to work actively for reconciliation.

As bells rang out across the Vatican and the crowd applauded, Leo concluded his blessing by offering Easter greetings in several languages, including Latin, Arabic, and Chinese. This gesture showed his commitment to unity and communication across cultures.

The pope also announced that he would return to the basilica on 11 April to lead a prayer vigil for peace. This event is expected to draw large crowds and further emphasize the importance of global unity and peace.

Pope Leo’s message of peace and reconciliation has been a consistent theme throughout his papacy, and his Easter Mass served as a powerful reminder of the need for global leaders to choose peace over conflict.