STORY: Pope Leo urged global leaders in his Easter message on Sunday (April 5) to end the conflicts raging across the world and abandon any schemes for power, conquest or domination.

The pope, who has emerged as an outspoken critic of the Iran war, lamented in a special message to the thousands gathered in St. Peter's Square that people are growing accustomed to violence, becoming indifferent.

"Let those who have weapons lay them down," the first U.S. pope exhorted. "Let those who have the power to unleash wars choose peace!"

Leo did not mention any specific conflicts in the message, known as the "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and the world) blessing. It was unusually brief and direct.

In his address from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, decorated with thousands of brightly coloured flowers for the holiday, the pope also announced he would return to the Square on April 11 to host a prayer vigil for peace.

Sunday marked Leo's first Easter as pope. He was elected on May 8, 2025, to succeed Francis, who died the day after presiding over last year's Easter celebrations in St. Peter's Square.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: VATICAN CITY (APRIL 5, 2026) (VATICAN MEDIA - Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF POPE LEO WALKING TO ALTAR/TOP VIEW OF PROCESSION

2. CLERGY STANDING NEAR ALTAR

3. POPE INCENSING ALTAR

4. PEOPLE IN ST PETER’S SQUARE

5. POPE INCENSING ICON

6. FLOWERS / PEOPLE IN SQUARE IN BACKGROUND

7. POPE LEADING MASS

8. ALTAR

9. POPE SPRINKLING HOLY WATER

10. FAITHFUL PRAYING, READING BOOKLET

11. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) POPE LEO SAYING (SOUNDBITE CONTINUES ON SHOT OF FAITHFUL LISTENING):

"Death is always lurking. We see it present in injustices, in partisan selfishness, in the oppression of the poor, in the lack of attention given to the most vulnerable. We see it in violence, in the wounds of the world, in the cry of pain that rises from every corner because of the abuses that crush the weakest, of the idolatry of profit that plunders the earth's resources, of the violence of war that kills and destroys."

12. CLERGY STANDING UP

13. HANDS JOINED IN PRAYER

14. CLERGY LINING UP

15. POPE LIFTING HOST

16. CLERGY KNEELING

17. POPE LIFTING CHALICE

18. FAITHFUL PRAYING

19. CLERGY WALKING IN SQUARE

20. CLERIC GIVING COMMUNION

21. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE IN SQUARE

22. POPE LEAVING ALTAR

23. AERIAL VIEW OF ST PETER'S SQUARE

24. BALCONY OF ST PETER'S BASILICA

25. POPE WAVING FROM BALCONY

26. MUSICIANS PLAYING

27. POPE STANDING ON BALCONY

28. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) POPE LEO SAYING:

"Let those who have weapons lay them down. Let those who have the power to unleash wars choose peace. Not a peace imposed by force, but through dialogue. Not with the desire to dominate others, but to encounter them."

29. FAITHFUL PRAYING

30. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) POPE LEO SAYING:

"We are all afraid of death, and out of fear we turn away, preferring not to look. We cannot continue to be indifferent. And we cannot resign ourselves to evil."

31. PEOPLE IN SQUARE

32. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) POPE LEO SAYING:

"On this day of celebration, let us abandon every desire for conflict, domination and power, and implore the Lord to grant his peace to a world ravaged by wars and marked by a hatred and indifference that make us feel powerless in the face of evil."

33. POPE STANDING ON BALCONY

34. CLERGY APPLAUDING

35. POPE GIVING BLESSING

36. FLAG READING (English): "PEACE"

37. PEOPLE CHEERING

38. POPE WAVING FROM BALCONY