Italian
A clear appeal, spoken without emphasis but with the gravity of necessary words. From the heart of Christianity, overlooking the Loggia of Blessings of St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Leo XIV delivered to the world his first Easter message Urbi et Orbi, placing at the center an urgent need: to lay down arms and choose the path of peace
VATICAN CITY. “Those who have weapons should lay them down. Those who have the power to unleash wars should choose peace.” Words that do not seek applause, but directly challenge consciences, in a time marked by widespread conflicts, international tensions, and a growing desensitization to violence. The Pope has clearly indicated that authentic peace does not arise from imposition or force, but from dialogue and the ability to meet.
The announcement of a Vigil for Peace, scheduled for April 11 at the Vatican Basilica, fits into this context as a concrete gesture, open to believers and non-believers alike. An invitation to pause, to step away from the noise of opposing views, to rediscover a space for listening and shared responsibility.
A peace that comes from the heart
In front of over sixty thousand faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square and along Via della Conciliazione, the Pope strongly emphasized the need for a “conversion” to peace. Not just a simple diplomatic agreement or a temporary truce, but a change that concerns the interiority of man.
“The peace that Jesus gives us – he stated – is not the one that merely silences weapons, but the one that transforms the heart.” It is from this transformation that authentic coexistence can arise, capable of generating new relationships among people, peoples, and nations.
One of the most striking points of the message concerns the denunciation of a dangerous habit: that of violence. The Pope spoke without hesitation about a progressive moral anesthesia, about a resignation that renders humanity incapable of reacting in the face of the death of thousands of people.
“We are getting used to violence, we are becoming indifferent,” he said, evoking that “globalization of indifference” already mentioned several times by recent teachings. It is not just about war fronts: the consequences of conflicts – hatred, division, impoverishment – permeate societies and end up affecting everyone.
Easter as a Response
On the day the Church celebrates the Resurrection, Pope Leo XIV pointed out that Easter is at the heart of the Christian response to the drama of violence. The victory of Christ, he reminded, is not achieved through force, but through a radically different logic: that of self-giving love, trust, and the rejection of revenge.
“The strength with which Christ rose is completely non-violent.” A statement that takes on a deeply countercultural value in a time when security is often identified with the ability to prevail over others. The Pope, on the other hand, has outlined a strength capable of generating peace because it is oriented towards the common good, not particular interests.
In his message, the Pope urged to abandon any desire for domination and power, recognizing how such dynamics are at the root of many conflicts. The cross, he reminded, is not only a symbol of suffering but also a revelation of an uncomfortable truth: violence does not save, and the fear of death cannot justify indifference.
In this scenario, the Vigil on April 11 appears as a sign of continuity with the path taken by the Church in recent years: not an isolated gesture, but an invitation to keep alive the focus on a peace that requires daily commitment.
At the end of the blessing, accompanied by the granting of the plenary indulgence, Pope Leo XIV extended Easter greetings in several languages, emphasizing the universal nature of his appeal. A symbolic gesture that recalls the global dimension of a crisis that knows no boundaries.
In the long tour among the faithful in the papamobile, amidst faces, flags, and songs, the echo of a simple and radical message remains: peace is not a utopia nor an abstraction, but a concrete choice that involves the freedom of each individual.
It is precisely in this freedom, the Pope implied, that the fate of the world is at stake today.
