Joshua McElwee
VATICAN CITY, April 5 (Reuters) – In his Easter message on Sunday, Pope Leo urged global leaders to end the conflicts raging around the world and abandon any plans for power, conquest or domination.
The pope, an outspoken critic of the war in Iran, lamented in a special message to the thousands gathered in St. Peter’s Square that people are “increasingly accustomed to violence, succumbing to it and becoming indifferent.”
“Let those who have arms lay down their arms!” exhorted America’s first pope. “Let those who are capable of waging war choose peace!”
Leo did not mention any specific conflict in his message, which was called “Urbi et Orbi” (a blessing to the city and the world). This sentence is unusually short and direct.
The pope said the Easter story, in which the Bible says Jesus rose from the dead three days after failing to resist his crucifixion, showed that Christ was “completely non-violent.”
“On this day of celebration, let us renounce all desire for conflict, domination and power and ask God to grant peace to a war-torn world,” Leo urged.
Leo, known for being careful with his words, has in recent weeks strongly condemned violent conflict around the world and stepped up his criticism of the war in Iran.
In his Easter Vigil sermon on Saturday night, he urged people not to become numb to the scope of conflict raging around the world but to work for peace.
The pope made a rare direct appeal to U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday, urging him to find an “exit” to end the war with Iran.
Speaking from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica on Sunday into the square below, which was decorated with thousands of brightly colored holiday flowers, Leo delivered brief Easter greetings in ten languages, including Latin, Arabic and Chinese.
The Pope also announced that he will return to the cathedral on April 11 to lead a prayer vigil for peace.
(Reporting by Joshua McElwee; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)
