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At Easter Vigil, Pope Leo Urges World Not to Grow Numb to War
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 4, 2026
2 min readLast updated: April 5, 2026
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At the Easter Vigil on April 4, 2026, Pope Leo XIV called on the faithful not to become desensitized to the world’s wars, urging renewed commitment to peace and justice. He also baptized ten adult converts during the service.
Pope Leo Calls for Global Peace and Justice at Easter Vigil in the Vatican
Pope Leo's Easter Vigil Message and Global Appeal
By Joshua McElwee
Easter Vigil at St. Peter's Basilica
VATICAN CITY, April 4 (Reuters) - Pope Leo led the world's Catholics into Easter at a Saturday night vigil Mass in St. Peter's Basilica and urged people not to feel numbed by the scope of the conflicts raging across the world but to work for peace.
Pope Leo's Critique of Global Conflicts
Leo, who has emerged as an outspoken critic of the Iran war, said that mistrust and fear have been allowed to "sever the bonds between us through war, injustice and the isolation of peoples and nations."
Call to Action for Peace
"Let us not allow ourselves to be paralyzed!" the first U.S. pope exhorted in a service for the holiest night in the Catholic calendar, when the Bible says Jesus rose from the dead.
Leo did not mention any specific conflicts during the service, at which he also baptized 10 adult converts to Catholicism.
Homily Emphasizing Justice and Harmony
In his homily to thousands in Christendom's largest church, the pope urged Catholics to follow the example of saints who he said struggled for justice so that "Easter gifts of harmony and peace may grow and flourish everywhere."
Increasing Criticism of the Iran War
Leo, who is known for choosing his words carefully, has been ramping up his criticism of the Iran war in recent weeks.
The pope said last Sunday that God rejects the prayers of leaders who start wars and have "hands full of blood." He made a direct appeal to U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday, urging the president to find an "off-ramp" to end the war.
Upcoming Easter Celebrations
The pope will conclude his Easter celebrations on Sunday morning with a Mass in St. Peter's Square and will deliver a special blessing and message, which is usually a time when he makes a major international appeal.
(Reporting by Joshua McElwee in Vatican City; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
Key Takeaways
- •Pope Leo XIV warned against spiritual paralysis in the face of ongoing global conflicts, urging Catholics to respond with action, not numbness.
- •This marks his most forceful Easter message amid his sustained criticism of the U.S.–Israel–Iran war and broader global violence.
- •The Vigil also saw the baptism of ten adult converts, underscoring the spiritual renewal at the heart of the Easter celebration.
References
- Pope Leo XIV urges an Easter end to the US-Israel war on Iran, calling for dialogue
- Pope Leo XIV rejects claims that God justifies war in Palm Sunday Mass message
- Pope Leo XIV carries cross for full Good Friday procession, the first pontiff to do so in decades
- Robert Prevost, first pope from US in history of the Catholic Church, takes the name Leo XIV
Frequently Asked Questions about At Easter vigil, Pope Leo urges world not to grow numb to war
1What did Pope Leo urge during the Easter vigil?
Pope Leo urged people not to grow numb to global conflicts and called on them to work for peace.
2Where did Pope Leo lead the Easter vigil Mass?
Pope Leo led the Easter vigil Mass at St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City.
3What was Pope Leo's message regarding war?
He emphasized that mistrust, fear, and war have severed bonds between people and urged for justice and harmony.
4Did Pope Leo mention any specific conflict or war?
While he did not name specific conflicts during the vigil, he has been an outspoken critic of the Iran war.
5How did Pope Leo refer to world leaders involved in war?
He said that God rejects the prayers of leaders who start wars and have hands full of blood.
