Pope Leo XIV delivered his first Easter Mass address on Sunday, calling on global leaders to choose peace over the pursuit of power. Thousands of worshippers gathered in St. Peter's Square to hear the pontiff, who spoke from the central balcony of the Vatican’s basilica.
"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," Leo said. The Pope, the first American-born pontiff, framed his message against a backdrop of spring flowers.
Leo criticized what he described as a growing public indifference to global suffering. "We are growing accustomed to violence, resigning ourselves to it, and becoming indifferent, indifferent to the deaths of thousands of people," he told the crowd.
A call for de-escalation
While Leo did not name specific countries in his Sunday address, he has maintained a critical stance toward the conflict in Iran. On Tuesday, he issued a direct appeal to U.S. President Donald Trump, urging him to find an "off-ramp" to end the military confrontation.
During his sermon at Saturday’s Easter vigil, the Pope encouraged believers to reject numbness toward global instability. He urged active work toward reconciliation rather than passive acceptance of ongoing hostilities.
"Let those who have weapons lay them down. Let those who have the power to unleash wars choose peace," Leo said. He noted that the Easter story of Christ’s resurrection highlights a figure who remained "entirely nonviolent" despite facing extreme suffering.
Leo paid tribute to his predecessor, Pope Francis, who delivered his final Easter address last year shortly before his death. The current pontiff concluded his Sunday blessing by offering greetings in several languages, including Latin, Arabic, and Chinese.
Following the Mass, Vatican officials announced that Leo will lead a prayer vigil for peace at the basilica on April 11. The Pope signaled that his focus remains on de-escalation as he continues to address world leaders through his public remarks.
