Pope Leo calls for hope amid global conflicts on his first Easter as pontiff
Pope Leo XIV celebrated his first Easter Mass as pontiff, urging hope against the violence of war.
Updated on: April 5, 2026 / 8:20 PM EDT / CBS/AP
With the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran in its second month and Russia's ongoing campaign in Ukraine , Leo has repeatedly called for a halt in hostilities. In his Easter homily, the pope singled out those who wage war, abuse the weak and prioritize profits.
"The power with which Christ rose is entirely nonviolent," said Leo, the first U.S.-born pope, referencing the resurrection that Christianity observes on the Easter holiday. "Brothers and sisters, this is the true strength that brings peace to humanity, because it fosters respectful relationships at every level: among individuals, families, social groups, and nations. It does not seek private interests, but the common good; it does not seek to impose its own plan, but to help design and carry out a plan together with others."
Leo addressed the faithful from an open-air altar in St. Peter's Square flanked with white roses, while the steps leading down to the piazza where the faithful gathered were filled with spring perennials, symbolically resonating with the pope's message of hope.
The pontiff implored the faithful to keep their hope in the face of death, which lurks "in injustices, in partisan selfishness, in the oppression of the poor, in the lack of attention given to the most vulnerable.