- 28 October, 2026
ASSISI, Italy, October 28, 2026 — Pope Leo XIV has called on religious leaders and people of faith to become “unarmed instruments of the Lord’s peace”, insisting that religion must never be used to justify violence or warfare.
In a video message sent on Tuesday to participants in the International Meeting for Peace in Assisi, organised by the Community of Sant’Egidio, the Pope declared: “War can never be waged in the name of God.”
“For us believers, ‘to fight in the name of religion means attacking religion itself’,” he said. “There is no such thing as a holy war: only peace is holy.”
The three-day gathering, held in the Umbrian town where St. Francis was born, took place under the theme “Unarmed and Disarming Peace”. It marked 40 years since the World Day of Prayer for Peace, convened by St. John Paul II on 27 October 1986.
Pope Leo expressed his regret at being unable to join the participants at the tomb of St. Francis for the anniversary. He greeted the organisers, patriarchs, religious leaders and Franciscans who had gathered for prayer and dialogue.
Recalling St. John Paul II’s appeal to continue living the “Spirit of Assisi”, the Pope said the anniversary offered an opportunity to reaffirm humanity’s shared capacity to live as brothers and sisters.
He stressed that the spirit of Assisi was particularly important in a world increasingly marked by a “culture of power”. It calls for rejecting religious justifications for war, promoting mediation and dialogue, and combining contemplation with practical action for peace.
“Peace” must once again become the common ideal of all peoples, he said, guiding decisions, exposing injustice and providing a shared vision for humanity.
“We must rebuild peace everywhere, not prepare for more wars,” he insisted.
The Pope described prayer as the foundation of the journey towards peace, acknowledging that it might appear weak when confronted with the powers of the world.
Yet, he said, prayer represents the humble strength of believers and must remain central to efforts to overcome violence.
He urged participants to turn to God, the giver of peace, and pray that the hearts of those who pursue war and terrorism might be changed.
“Let us not forget that prayer is never in vain,” he said.
His message placed spiritual commitment alongside the practical responsibility to challenge violence and promote reconciliation. Prayer, he suggested, should inspire believers to work actively for peace rather than remain passive in the face of conflict.
Pope Leo also called on religious leaders to foster dialogue among believers and throughout society. The aim, he said, is to replace arrogance with negotiation, understanding and peaceful engagement, gradually leading humanity away from recurring cycles of violence.
The appeal reflects the central purpose of the Assisi gatherings: bringing people of different religions together to demonstrate that faith can serve as a bridge rather than a source of division.
Concluding his message, the Pope prayed that God would grant the peace sought by nations across the world.
His words offered a clear challenge to religious communities and political leaders alike: reject the manipulation of God’s name to legitimise violence, nurture dialogue and make peace a shared responsibility.
“May we be unarmed instruments of His peace,” he prayed, reaffirming the message at the heart of the Assisi meeting.
Courtesy : Vatican News
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