religion
Pope Leo urges hope at first Easter Mass amid global conflicts
At St Peter's Square the US-born pontiff appealed for hope, decried violence and injustice amid global conflicts, while Easter observances in the Holy Land were reduced under security limits.
Apr 5th 2026 · Vatican City
Insights
- Pope Leo celebrated his first Easter Mass as pontiff in St Peter's Square.
- He urged the faithful to keep hope and condemned war, injustice and the idolatry of profit.
- He singled out ongoing conflicts including tensions between Israel and Iran and the war in Ukraine.
- Easter ceremonies in the Holy Land were scaled back and the Western Wall blessing was limited to 50 people.
- The pope quoted his predecessor on resisting indifference and will deliver the traditional Urbi et Orbi message later.
Sources
- Pope Leo condemns ‘violence of war’ in first Easter Mass amid Iran conflict www.france24.com
- Pope Leo uses Easter Sunday message to urge world leaders to end wars www.independent.co.uk
- Pope Leo marks first Easter as pontiff with call for hope amid global conflicts www.channelnewsasia.com
- On Easter, Pope Leo urges world leaders to end wars, renounce conquest www.straitstimes.com
- On Easter, Pope Leo urges world leaders to end wars, renounce conquest www.channelnewsasia.com
- Photos show Pope Leo's first Easter Mass as pontiff www.independent.co.uk
- Pope Leo calls for peace, dialogue amid Ukraine, Iran wars in Easter mass www.scmp.com
- Pope urges world to 'lay down arms" and names no wars in Easter blessing www.france24.com
- On Easter, Pope Leo urges world leaders to end wars, renounce conquest www.france24.com
- Pope Leo calls for hope amid global conflicts on his first Easter as pontiff www.cbsnews.com
- Pope Leo Calls for Peace and Warns of a World Indifferent to Violence www.nytimes.com
- Pope Leo XIV urges peace in first Easter Mass, skips naming conflicts in Urbi et Orbi www.cnbc.com
- On Easter, Pope Leo delivers commanding message of peace to a world at war www.washingtonpost.com
- Pope Leo urges 'those who have the power to unleash wars' to 'choose peace' www.lemonde.fr
- Pope's Easter message: Leaders must choose peace over war www.dw.com
- Pope Leo calls for global leaders to choose peace in his first Easter Mass www.bbc.com
- Pope Leo urges 'those who have the power to unleash wars' to 'choose peace' www.lemonde.fr
- Pope Leo XIV calls for peace in first Easter Mass as pontiff www.theglobeandmail.com
- ‘Choose peace’: Pope Leo XIV marks first Easter under cloud of war in West Asia www.thehindu.com
- Pope warns world is becoming ‘indifferent’ to violence www.aljazeera.com
- ‘Choose peace,’ Pope Leo implores world leaders in first Easter address www.politico.eu
- In first Easter blessing as pontiff, Pope Leo XIV urges those who can unleash wars to 'choose peace' www.euronews.com