Pope Leo XIV celebrated Easter mass at the Vatican this Sunday (5) and made a direct appeal for peace in the midst of international conflicts. During the ceremony, the pontiff also addressed the faithful in Portuguese, wishing them “Happy Easter” and calling for the spread of the Christian message.
The celebration took place in Saint Peter’s Square, which brought together thousands of people. According to official information, the space was decorated with around 60,000 flowers and received faithful from different countries to attend the first Easter Mass of the current Pope, elected around 11 months ago.
“Happy Easter. Bring to everyone the joy of the risen Lord present among us”, said the pontiff in Portuguese, in addition to repeating the greeting in other languages, such as Italian, English, Spanish, German and Chinese.
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Appeal against wars and criticism of indifference
In his homily, Leo XIV once again emphasized the international scenario and asked global leaders to prioritize peaceful solutions. Without mentioning specific countries, he stated that those with the power to start conflicts should opt for peace and criticized the indifference in the face of deaths.
The message reinforces the pope’s recent positions. The previous week, he had already declared that God does not listen to prayers from leaders who promote wars, amid the escalation of tensions in the Middle East.
In the message “Urbi et Orbi”, delivered after the mass, the pontiff also asked people involved in conflicts to abandon their weapons and choose dialogue. According to him, the resurrection of Jesus Christ represents a victory of life over death and should inspire actions aimed at the common good.
First Easter as Pope
This Sunday’s celebration marked the end of the cycle of Holy Week ceremonies at the Vatican. Throughout the rites, Leo XIV performed symbolic gestures, such as carrying the cross during the Via Crucis in Rome, something that had not occurred since the 1970s, and praying while lying on the floor during the celebration of the Passion of Christ.
Easter is considered one of the main dates in the Christian calendar and marks, according to tradition, the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Millions of faithful celebrate the date around the world, while the Vatican hosts one of the Catholic Church’s main global ceremonies.
