Pope Leo XIV, the first U.S.-born pope, celebrated his inaugural Easter Mass as pontiff on Sunday with a call to lay down arms and seek peace to global conflicts through dialogue. Pope Leo urged global leaders in his Easter message on Sunday to end the conflicts raging across the world and abandon any schemes for power, conquest or domination. Leo did not mention any specific conflicts in the message, known as the Urbi et Orbi (to the city and the world) blessing. Pope Leo XIV delivers his Urbi et Orbi (to the city and the world) message from the main balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican on Easter Sunday. The Pope also announced he would return to the Basilica on April 11 to host a prayer vigil for peace.

Source: CBC News April 05, 2026 23:27 UTC