Pope Leo XIV announced that he will lead a prayer vigil for peace on April 11 at St. Peter’s Basilica, making the declaration during his first Easter “Urbi et Orbi” message on April 5, 2026.
In his address “to the city and the world,” the Pope issued a direct and urgent appeal for peace, calling on those who possess weapons to lay them down and urging leaders to choose dialogue over conflict. Departing from the traditional review of global crises, he focused instead on the deeper spiritual roots of peace, presenting the Resurrection of Christ as the answer to a world marked by violence, hatred, and indifference.
Reflecting on the meaning of Easter, Pope Leo XIV emphasized that the Resurrection is the victory of life over death, light over darkness, and love over hatred, while also recalling the suffering and sacrifice of Christ. He appealed for a peace not imposed by force but built through encounter and dialogue.
The Holy Father concluded by inviting the faithful to join him for the April 11 vigil, urging all to abandon desires for conflict, domination, and power, and to implore God’s peace for a world wounded by war and shaped by growing indifference.