Pope Leo XIV urged leaders to end the conflicts raging across the world and ​abandon any schemes for power, conquest, or domination in his Easter message on Sunday, April 5. Reuters reported that the pope, standing atop St. Peter's Basilica and addressing tens of thousands of worshippers in the square below, said the world is "growing accustomed to violence, resigning ourselves to it, ​and becoming indifferent."

In his first Easter message since taking office, Pope Leo exhorted, "Let those who have weapons lay them down! Let those who have the power to unleash wars ⁠choose peace!" He also emphasized that in the story of Easter, Jesus rose from the dead three days after not resisting his execution by crucifixion, showing that Christ ​was "entirely nonviolent."

Although Pope Leo XIV did not name any specific conflict in his statement, he has strongly condemned the war with Iran and, in a rare move, he appealed to U.S. President Donald Trump at the end of last month, urging him to end the war with Iran.

The Pope will return to St. Peter's Basilica on April 11 ​to host a prayer vigil for peace.