Urbi et Orbi: Pope urges world leaders to lay down weapons

Vatican City, April 6, 2026: On Easter Sunday, Pope Leo XIV called on world leaders to opt for “not to dominate others, but to encounter them”. He also revealed that he will preside over a prayer vigil for peace next Saturday, April 11th, at Saint Peter’s Basilica.

Pope Leo XIV appealed to global leaders to put aside their weapons and embrace “encounter” instead of domination.

“Let those who have weapons lay them down!”, the Pope urged on Easter Sunday in his customary Urbi et Orbi (‘To the City and the World’) address.

Addressing the tens of thousands of pilgrims present in St Peter's Square, Pope Leo called on "those who have the power to unleash wars" to chose peace.

He emphasised that this peace should not be “imposed by force”, but realised through dialogue – “not with the desire to dominate others, but to encounter them”.

The 'globalisation of indifference'

Pope Leo cautioned that the world is “growing accustomed to violence”.

He observed that we are “becoming indifferent”, not only towards the loss of thousands of lives, but also towards the “hatred and division” caused by war, along with its “economic and social consequences”.

Using a phrase coined by the late Pope Francis, Pope Leo warned of the “ever-increasing ‘globalisation of indifference’”.

“We cannot continue to be indifferent!”, he urged. “We cannot resign ourselves to evil!”.

For this reason, he stated that he would lead a prayer vigil for peace next Saturday, April 11th, at St Peter’s Basilica.

Nonviolence and 'true strength'

At Easter, the Pope reflected that Jesus triumphed over death and thus “defeated once and for all the ancient adversary, the prince of this world”.

However, Pope Leo underlined that the power through which Christ achieved this victory is “entirely nonviolent”, rooted in a love that “creates and generates”, “forgives and redeems”.

He explained that this love and spirit of forgiveness represent the “true strength” that brings about peace and nurtures relationships among individuals and societies.

Inner peace

Concluding his Urbi et Orbi message, the Pope highlighted that Easter peace is not simply “the silence of weapons”, but also an inner peace that “touches and transforms the heart of each one of us”.

“Let us allow ourselves to be transformed by the peace of Christ”, Pope Leo urged, entrusting to the Lord "all hearts that suffer and await the true peace that only he can give.”

Courtesy: Vatican News