Pope Leo's first Easter Mass calls for peace through dialogue
AP News • • world
Key Points:
- Pope Leo XIV delivered his first Easter Mass as pontiff, calling for global peace through dialogue and urging those with weapons to lay them down, while emphasizing Easter's message of hope and resurrection.
- Unlike tradition, he did not name specific conflicts during the Urbi et Orbi blessing, though he alluded to ongoing wars such as the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran and Russia's campaign in Ukraine, echoing Pope Francis' previous remarks on widespread violence and death.
- Leo revived several traditional papal practices, including greeting the faithful in multiple languages, washing priests' feet on Holy Thursday, and carrying the wooden cross throughout the Way of the Cross on Good Friday.
- Easter celebrations in the Holy Land were subdued due to Israeli-imposed restrictions on public gatherings amid missile attacks, affecting Christian, Muslim, and Jewish religious observances and straining relations between Israeli authorities and Christian leaders.
- The pope announced a prayer vigil for peace on April 11 in St. Peter’s Basilica, urging the faithful to abandon desires for conflict and domination and to seek peace in a world marked by war and hatred.
