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By Kate Nalepinski and Jasmine Laws
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Pope Leo XIV has delivered his Easter Sunday message from St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican City, addressing Catholics around the world as they marked Christianity’s holiest day.
The pope’s traditional Urbi et Orbi address, Latin for “to the city and to the world,” was delivered from the central balcony overlooking St. Peter’s Square, where thousands of people tend to gather. Millions typically follow the address worldwide.
In his remarks, Leo focused on Easter as “the victory of life over death, of light over darkness, of love over hatred,” while pressing world leaders to reject violence and pursue peace through dialogue.
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“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,” the pope said.
A central theme of Leo’s message was a warning against what he called an ever-growing “globalization of indifference” toward suffering—a phrase he explicitly attributed to his predecessor, Pope Francis.
“We are growing accustomed to violence, resigning ourselves to it, and becoming indifferent—indifferent to the deaths of thousands of people,” Leo said, arguing that hatred and division also carry economic and social costs “which we all feel.”
His comments came against the backdrop of ongoing global conflicts, including the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran and Russia’s continued war in Ukraine, both of which he has repeatedly urged leaders to halt.
What Is the 'Urbi et Orbi' Address?
The Urbi et Orbi is a papal blessing delivered by the pope on Easter Sunday and Christmas Day, as well as on rare occasions.
The address is traditionally given from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica and is often used to reflect on major global challenges, including war, poverty, migration and religious persecution, while emphasizing themes of hope and renewal tied to Easter.
The blessing includes the granting of a plenary indulgence for baptized Catholics who meet specific conditions.
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When Did the Pope Deliver His Easter Message?
Pope Leo delivered the Easter address on April 5, 2026, following an open-air Easter Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. The calendar for the Easter Urbi et Orbi listed the event at noon local time.
The address marked the pope’s first Easter since his election in May 2025.
How Does the Pope's Message Compare to Last Year's?
Last year’s Easter message, delivered under Francis, centered on the Resurrection as the foundation of hope, while also stressing the preciousness of every life amid a world marked by violence and conflict, as he called for peace in global conflicts, particularly in Ukraine and Gaza.
"There can be no peace without freedom of religion, freedom of thought, freedom of expression and respect for the views of others," Francis said. "What a great thirst for death, for killing we see in the many conflicts raging in different parts of the world."
The two addresses both called for global peace in an appeal to political leaders to reject the "logic of fear" and drop their weapons, urging instead for dialogue and the protection of humanity.
Though in tone and metaphor the two addresses differed, the central focus of both were to implore global leaders to cease ongoing conflicts.
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