The Digester

Pope Leo XIV urges leaders to 'abandon projects of death' in peace video

Mar 11th 2026

On March 5, 2026 Pope Leo XIV released a four minute Vatican video asking leaders to abandon 'projects of death,' renounce weapons and pursue dialogue, a message framed by the March disarmament prayer intention and the recent outbreak of regional hostilities.

  • The Vatican published a four minute video on March 5, 2026 in which Pope Leo XIV prayed for world leaders to renounce weapons and choose dialogue and diplomacy.
  • The pope held an olive branch inside the Church of San Pellegrino while calling for disarmament, an end to the arms race, and protection of the most vulnerable.
  • The video was released by the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network as the monthly March prayer intention focused on disarmament, a plan announced in 2025.
  • The message took on added urgency after the recent outbreak of hostilities involving the U.S., Israel and Iran.
  • Pope Leo repeated the phrase Peace be with you and prayed that daily acts of reconciliation become seeds of a new world.

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