Image: from Michael Haynes X @MLJHaynes
By Open Chronicle Staff with Agencies
VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born pontiff, presided over his inaugural Easter Mass on Sunday, delivering a powerful mandate for global disarmament and dialogue as conflicts continue to rage across the Middle East and Eastern Europe.
Speaking to a crowd of approximately 50,000 faithful in a rain-slicked St. Peter’s Square, the 70-year-old Pope departed from several recent traditions, offering a message focused on the transformative power of hope rather than a direct litany of geopolitical grievances.
JUST IN: Pope Leo, the first American Pope, has delivered his first "Urbi et Orbi" Easter blessing at the Vatican.
The historic moment took place during Easter Sunday Holy Mass in Vatican City. pic.twitter.com/ulFA2LHiso
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A Call to “Lay Down Arms”
During the Urbi et Orbi blessing (Latin for “to the city and the world”), Leo XIV addressed the “idolatry of profit” and the “violence of war” that he claimed are plundering the earth and crushing the weak.
“Let those who have weapons lay them down!” the Pope implored from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica. “Let those who have the power to unleash wars choose peace! Not a peace imposed by force, but through dialogue!”
Notably, the Pontiff chose not to name specific conflicts—such as the second month of the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran or the ongoing war in Ukraine—marking a shift from the style of his predecessor, Pope Francis, who died last Easter Monday. Instead, Leo quoted Francis, reminding the world of the “great thirst for death” currently witnessed across the globe.
Restoring Tradition
The Easter liturgy highlighted Leo XIV’s effort to blend modern leadership with traditional Church practices:
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Multilingualism: The Pope revived the tradition of greeting the faithful in 10 languages, including Arabic, Chinese, and Latin.
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Clerical Focus: On Holy Thursday, he returned to washing the feet of priests, a shift from Francis’s practice of visiting prisons and washing the feet of laypeople and non-Christians.
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Physical Endurance: Despite his age, Leo became the first pope in decades to carry the wooden cross for all 14 stations during the Good Friday procession.
A Global Easter Under Shadow
While bells rang in Rome, the atmosphere remained somber for Christian communities in conflict zones.
| Location | Observance Highlights |
| Jerusalem | Subdued ceremonies at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre due to Israeli police restrictions and missile threats. |
| Gaza City | Palestinian Christians celebrated their first Easter since the ceasefire at Holy Family Church. |
| Tehran | Armenian Christians gathered at St. Sarkis Cathedral amidst daily airstrikes, using painted eggs to provide “normalcy” for children. |
Looking Ahead
In a move to maintain the momentum of his peace plea, Pope Leo XIV announced a special prayer vigil for peace to be held on April 11 within St. Peter’s Basilica. As the international community grapples with the economic and social fallout of current wars, the Vatican appears poised to position itself as a central mediator, emphasizing “encounter” over “domination.”