Pope Leo urges those with power to ‘unleash wars’ to choose peace in Easter message
Pope Leo XIV delivered a pointed appeal to world leaders in his Easter message, urging those “who have the power to unleash wars” to choose peace over force.
The message, issued during one of the most important dates in the Christian calendar, carried particular weight as Leo — the first American pontiff — used the occasion to frame peace not as weakness, but as a form of strength rooted in restraint and dialogue.
"In the light of Easter, let us allow ourselves to be amazed by Christ! Let us allow our hearts to be transformed by his immense love for us! Let those who have weapons lay them down! Let those who have the power to unleash wars choose peace! Not a peace imposed by force, but through dialogue! Not with the desire to dominate others, but to encounter them!" he said.
Leo also warned against what he described as a growing desensitisation to violence, lamenting a world becoming indifferent to the deaths of thousands and the wider consequences of conflict.
"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 and marked by a hatred and indifference that make us feel powerless in the face of evil," the pontiff, who hails from Chicago in the United States, said.
Popes have long been viewed as a moral compass in times of crisis, and Leo’s Easter message appeared to continue that tradition — while also reflecting the unique position of the papacy as both a spiritual authority and a head of state.
Although the pontiff did not name specific leaders in his Easter address, his remarks come against the backdrop of escalating global tensions and ongoing conflicts.
Just days earlier, however, Leo had been more direct.
Speaking to journalists, he referenced remarks by Donald Trump, saying he hoped the US leader was seeking an “off-ramp” to reduce violence and halt the cycle of hatred, particularly in conflict zones such as the Middle East.
He also called on leaders to return to dialogue and reduce the level of violence, stressing that peace — especially during Easter — should prevail.
As conflicts persist across multiple regions, Leo’s call for restraint, dialogue and peace positions the Vatican once again at the centre of global appeals for an end to violence.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
