JUST IN: Pope Leo XIV calls on countries that started the war to end it during Easter message: “Let those who have the power to unleash wars choose peace”
Vatican City – April 5, 2026 | Reflecto News
In his first Easter Sunday message as pontiff, Pope Leo XIV delivered a pointed appeal for peace amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East, directly urging the nations responsible for initiating the war to choose de-escalation and dialogue.
Speaking during the traditional Urbi et Orbi blessing from the central loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica, the Pope declared: “Let those who have the power to unleash wars choose peace.”
The message, delivered to tens of thousands gathered in St. Peter’s Square and broadcast worldwide, framed Easter as a call to hope, renewal, and reconciliation in a world torn by violence, injustice, and war.
Pope Leo XIV’s Easter Appeal
Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born pontiff (born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago), emphasized that the Resurrection of Christ offers a path beyond conflict:
“Easter is the victory of life over death, of light over darkness, of love over hatred. In the midst of the cry of pain rising from every corner of the earth — because of abuses against the weakest, the idolatry of profit that plunders creation, and the violence of war that kills and destroys — let those who have the power to unleash wars choose peace.”
He called for immediate dialogue and restraint, warning that continued escalation risks turning the region into a broader conflagration with catastrophic humanitarian and spiritual consequences.
The Pope’s words come as Operation Epic Fury enters its sixth week, with intense U.S.-Israeli operations against Iran, including strikes on Tehran, petrochemical facilities, and other infrastructure.
Context Amid the Iran Conflict
The Easter message arrives against a backdrop of rapid developments:
- Successful U.S. rescue of both F-15E pilots despite a “nightmare scenario” ground battle with IRGC forces, U.S. airstrikes on advancing Iranian troops, and the deliberate destruction of stranded aircraft (including two C-130 Hercules, one MH-6 Little Bird, and one A-10 Warthog) at a remote base inside Iran.
- Reports of over 50 senior Iranian officials killed in U.S. strikes on Tehran.
- Iranian retaliation, including a drone strike causing significant damage to Kuwaiti power and water desalination plants.
- IAEA concerns over strikes near the Bushehr nuclear power plant.
- Stalled ceasefire talks after Iran rejected the U.S. 15-point peace proposal.
- Growing transatlantic tensions, with The Wall Street Journal reporting the US-Europe alliance nearing a breaking point.
- Former IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei’s public call to stop what he termed the “madman” Trump.
Pope Leo XIV’s appeal echoes previous Vatican calls for restraint but carries added weight as his first major Easter address since his election in 2025. He stressed that true peace requires justice, respect for human dignity, and an end to the cycle of retaliation.
Reactions
- Vatican observers note the Pope’s direct language as a departure from more general appeals, implicitly addressing the U.S., Israel, and Iran.
- U.S. and Israeli officials have not issued immediate responses, while Iranian state media welcomed the call for peace but blamed “aggressors” for starting the conflict.
- Gulf states and European capitals are closely watching the message amid ongoing diplomatic efforts, including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s visit to Saudi Arabia and Putin-Erdogan talks.
Reflecto News will continue monitoring reactions from Washington, Tehran, Jerusalem, and other capitals, as well as any follow-up statements from the Holy See. Pope Leo XIV’s Easter message adds a powerful moral voice to growing international calls for de-escalation in a conflict that has already caused significant military, economic, and humanitarian costs.
By Reflecto News Desk
Sources: Vatican News, CNN, Reuters, The New York Times, Axios, and international wire services.