“Whoever has weapons in their hands, let them lay them down!”, appeals Leo XIV at Easter

In an Easter message this Sunday (5), Pope Leo XIV once again called for peace in the face of the war between Israel and the United States against Iran. He told “whoever has weapons in their hands, lay them down!” and “to those who have the power to trigger wars, choose peace”.

After celebrating the Mass of the Resurrection in St. Peter’s Square, the Pope invited everyone to join him in the prayer vigil for peace that will be held in St. Peter’s Basilica next Saturday (11).

Leo XIV recalled that “Easter is a victory: of life over death, of light over darkness, of love over hate”.

Also read: Middle East: Pope calls for ceasefire and rejects violence

According to the Pope, with his resurrection, “the Lord places us even more intensely before the drama of our freedom”.

“In the light of Easter, let us allow ourselves to be surprised by Christ! Let us allow our hearts to be transformed by his immense love for us! Whoever has weapons in their hands, let them lay them down! Whoever has the power to trigger wars, let him choose peace! Not a peace achieved through force, but through dialogue! Not with the desire to dominate others, but to find them!”, says the Pope after celebrating the Mass of the Resurrection in St. Peter’s Square.