Pope Leo XIV led Catholics worldwide into Easter during the Saturday night vigil Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, calling on the faithful not to be overwhelmed by the scale of global conflicts but to actively work for peace.
The pontiff, who has been an outspoken critic of the ongoing Iran war, warned that mistrust and fear have been allowed to “sever the bonds between us through war, injustice and the isolation of peoples and nations.”
“Let us not allow ourselves to be paralyzed!” the first U.S. pope exhorted during the liturgy marking the holiest night of the Catholic calendar, commemorating the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
While he did not cite specific conflicts during the service, Pope Leo baptized 10 adult converts to Catholicism and encouraged believers to follow the example of saints who struggled for justice so that “Easter gifts of harmony and peace may grow and flourish everywhere.”
In recent weeks, the pope has intensified his criticism of the Iran war. Last Sunday, he said that God rejects the prayers of leaders who initiate wars and have “hands full of blood.”
On Tuesday, he made a direct appeal to Donald Trump, urging him to find an “off-ramp” to end the conflict.
Pope Leo is set to conclude the Easter celebrations with a Mass at St. Peter’s Square on Sunday morning, followed by the traditional blessing and message, a moment often used to deliver significant international appeals.