Pope Leo XIV Urges Peace in Middle East on Easter Sunday

On Easter Sunday, Pope Leo XIV delivered a message calling for peace in the Middle East, highlighting the ongoing conflicts that have escalated since the U.S. strike against Iran on February 28. He addressed a crowd at St.

Peter's Square, urging the world's 1.4 billion Catholics to choose peace and engage in prayer. The Pope expressed concern over the indifference towards the violence that has resulted in thousands of deaths, stating that people have grown accustomed to violence.

He directly urged U.S. President Donald Trump to find a way to de-escalate the situation.

The Pope's message came amid heightened tensions in the region, particularly in Jerusalem's Old City, where access to holy sites has been restricted. He also paid tribute to his predecessor, Pope Francis, who last appeared publicly on Easter Sunday the previous year, just hours before his death.

The Pope's call for peace coincides with a planned prayer vigil at the Vatican on April 11.