Pope Leo XIV Calls for an End to 'Globalization of Indifference' in Easter Peace Message

Pope Leo XIV delivered a poignant message for global peace during his traditional Easter address 'Urbi et Orbi' (To the City and to the World) on Sunday, April 5, calling on those who wield power to end wars and lay down their weapons, according to Vatican News.

Speaking from the central loggia of St. Peter's Basilica after the Easter Mass, the Pontiff addressed a world 'devastated by war,' highlighting the troubling phenomenon of 'globalization of indifference.'

“Let those who hold weapons put them down! Let those who have the power to provoke war choose peace!” declared the Pope before thousands of pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square. “Peace must be achieved not through force, but through dialogue; not with the desire to dominate others, but to meet them.”

Pope Leo XIV warned that the world is becoming accustomed to violence and growing indifferent to evil. To combat this trend, he invited the faithful to join a special prayer for peace scheduled to take place at St. Peter's Basilica next Saturday, April 11.

The Pope's appeal comes against the backdrop of a significant escalation in hostilities in Ukraine. In a phone conversation with President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier this week, the Pontiff expressed his solidarity with the Ukrainian people as the country faces what Zelensky described as an 'Easter escalation.'

Despite Kyiv's proposal for a symbolic ceasefire during the holiday, Russian forces launched a massive drone and missile attack across at least five regions, resulting in the deaths of 14 people nationwide on Friday and Saturday. Zelensky noted that the attacks continued even during his conversation with the Pope, labeling them a 'direct rejection' of any peace initiatives.

This call for peace and dialogue from Pope Leo XIV serves as an important reminder of the need for collective efforts to achieve peace in a world engulfed in conflict. In an era where violence is becoming commonplace, it is crucial for world leaders to choose the path of cooperation and understanding rather than force and aggression.