This Easter, Pope Leo calls on world leaders to end wars and conquests

Pope Leo, in his Easter message on Sunday, called on world leaders to end the conflicts raging around the world and to abandon any plans for power, conquest or domination.

The pope, who has emerged as an outspoken critic of the Iran war, lamented in a special message to the thousands gathered in St. Peter’s Square that people are “getting used to violence, resigned to it and becoming indifferent.”

“Those who have weapons should put them down!” the first US pope admonished. “Let those who have the power to start wars choose peace!”

Leo did not mention any specific conflicts in the so-called message The city and the world (for the city and the world) blessing. It was unusually short and direct.

The pope said the story of Easter, in which the Bible says Jesus rose from the dead three days after failing to resist his execution by crucifixion, shows that Christ was “completely non-violent.”

“On this feast day, let us give up all desire for conflict, domination and power and pray to the Lord to grant peace to a war-ravaged world,” Leo urged.

Leo, known for choosing his words carefully, has in recent weeks sharply denounced the world’s violent conflicts and stepped up his criticism of the Iran war.

In a sermon for the Easter Vigil on Saturday evening, he called on people not to feel numb to the extent of the conflicts raging around the world, but to work for peace.

The pope made a rare direct appeal to US President Donald Trump on Tuesday, urging him to find an “exit” to end the Iran war.

Speaking from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica on Sunday to the square below, decorated with thousands of colorful flowers for the holiday, Leo delivered brief Easter greetings in 10 languages, including Latin, Arabic and Chinese.

The pope also announced that he would return to the basilica on April 11 to hold a vigil for peace.