ANNABA, Algeria — Pope Leo XIV traveled Tuesday from Algiers to Annaba — ancient Hippo — in what for the Augustinian pontiff amounted to a return to the roots of his faith and vocation.

After a flight of about an hour, Leo arrived in the city most closely associated with St. Augustine, who served as bishop of Hippo from 396 to 430. For the pope, a son of St. Augustine, the visit marked a homecoming of sorts.

It was in Hippo that St. Augustine died at about age 75 while the city was under siege by the Vandals. His remains were first buried in the basilica there. To protect them from desecration, Augustine’s body was later moved first to Cagliari and then, around 723, transferred to Pavia by the Lombard king Liutprand. His relics are now venerated in the Basilica of San Pietro in Ciel d’Oro, which Pope Leo is scheduled to visit on June 20.

Over the centuries after Augustine’s death, Annaba — once Hippo — was conquered first by the Byzantines and later destroyed by the Arabs in the seventh century before being rebuilt under the name Annaba.

Among the surviving remains from the Roman era are the paved forum surrounded by columned porticoes, the theater, the market, Severan baths, cisterns, and figurative mosaics. Christian-era elements also remain, including the Basilica Pacis, where St. Augustine carried out his episcopal ministry, and its adjoining baptistery.

Upon arriving at the archaeological site, Pope Leo XIV was greeted by a local official. Despite driving rain and a shorter visit than originally planned because of the weather, the pope walked through the ruins and, at the end of the route, laid a wreath of flowers.

The choir of the Annaba Institute of Music then performed songs in Latin, Berber, and Arabic based on texts by St. Augustine dedicated to peace and fraternity. After a brief prayer, the pope departed the archaeological site.

Leo was then set to continue to the Little Sisters of the Poor’s home for the elderly, where he was to stop briefly to greet residents.

This story was first published by ACI Stampa, the Italian-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

ALGIERS, Algeria — The first day of Pope Leo XIV’s international apostolic journey to Africa concluded with an encounter with the Algerian community at the Basilica of Our Lady of Africa in Algiers.

“It is with profound joy and fatherly affection that I meet with you today, you whose discrete and precious presence in this land is marked by an ancient heritage and by luminous witnesses of the faith," Pope Leo said after listening to several testimonies.

"Your community has deep roots indeed. You are the heirs of a host of witnesses who gave their lives, motivated by love for God and neighbor," he continued. "I am particularly reminded of the 19 men and women religious who were martyred in Algeria, choosing to stand alongside this people in its joys and sorrows. Their blood is a living seed that never ceases to bear fruit.”

After fulfilling the more formal engagements — beginning with the late‑morning meeting with the president of the Algerian Republic, authorities, and the diplomatic corps — Leo on Monday afternoon received the embrace of the Algerian Catholic community, present despite heavy rain.

At the opening of the meeting, the pope knelt in adoration in front of a tabernacle containing the Eucharist.

Pope Leo XIV prays in front of a tabernacle in the Basilica of Our Lady of Africa in Algiers, Algeria, on April 13, 2026, the first day of an apostolic journey to four countries in Africa. | Credit: AIGAV Pool

“You are also heirs to a still more ancient tradition, dating back to the early centuries of Christianity," he said in a speech delivered in French. "In this land resounded the fervent voice of Augustine of Hippo, preceded by the testimony of his mother, St. Monica, and of other saints. Their memory shines as a call to be authentic signs of communion, dialogue, and peace today."

“To all of you, dear friends, and to those who are not able to be present but are following this meeting from afar,“ he added, ”I express my gratitude for your daily commitment to manifest the maternal heart of the Church.”

After thanking Cardinal Dieudonné Nzapalainga and a religious sister, Pentecostal student, basilica guide, and Muslim woman who had spoken, the pope invited those present to reflect on three essential aspects of Christian life.

“First, prayer. We all need to pray. … Prayer unites, humanizes, strengthens, and purifies the heart. Through prayer, the Church in Algeria sows humanity, unity, strength, and purity, reaching places known only to the Lord," he said.

Turning to charity, Leo emphasized that mercy and service are not merely practical assistance but places of grace and mutual growth.

“After all, it is precisely love for their brothers and sisters that inspired the witness of the martyrs we have commemorated. In the face of hatred and violence, they remained faithful to charity even to the point of sacrificing themselves alongside many other men and women, Christians and Muslims. They did so without ostentation or fanfare, with serenity and steadfastness, neither falling into presumption nor despair, for they knew the One in whom they had placed their trust.”

Addressing peace and unity, Pope Leo recalled that this was the central theme of his visit.

“In a world where division and wars sow pain and death among nations, in communities, and even within families, your experience of unity and peace is a compelling sign. Together, you spread fraternity and inspire a deep longing for communion and reconciliation with a powerful and clear message that is borne in simplicity and humility," the pope said.

“A considerable part of this country’s territory is desert, and in the desert, no one can survive alone. The hostile environment dispels any presumptions of self‑sufficiency, reminding us that we need one another, and that we need God,“ he said. ”When we acknowledge our fragility, our hearts become open to supporting one another and to invoking the One who can grant what no human power can ensure: the profound reconciliation of hearts and, with it, true peace.”

Before reaching the Basilica of Our Lady of Africa, Pope Leo XIV stopped at the Great Mosque of Algiers and earlier at the center of hospitality and friendship of the Augustinian Missionary Sisters in Bab El Oued.

There, the pope paid homage to the memory of several religious sisters of this community killed during the civil war in the 1990s. After praying with the sisters and listening to the words of their superior, Leo XIV recalled the martyrs as a precious presence in the land and as a sign of the heart of Augustinian life: witness, even unto martyrdom.

“Your presence here means a great deal,” the Holy Father said, recalling a previous visit and highlighting the legacy of St. Augustine in the region: promoting respect for the dignity of every person and affirming that it is possible to live in peace while valuing differences.

Before departing, he thanked the sisters and encouraged them to persevere, recalling that the feast of the 19 martyrs of Algeria falls on May 8 — the day of his election.

Tomorrow, Pope Leo XIV will make what he described as a true return to his roots, with a visit to Hippo, where St. Augustine — founder of the order to which the pope belongs — served as bishop from A.D. 396 to 430.

This story was first published by ACI Stampa, the Italian-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

ALGIERS, Algeria — Pope Leo XIV on Monday presented himself to Algeria’s diplomatic corps and civil society as “a pilgrim of peace,” urging a more just international order, warning against exclusion and inequality, and praising those who refuse to be “blinded by power or wealth.”

Peace remained the central theme of the pope’s first day in Algeria, following his earlier stop at the Martyrs’ Memorial, where he delivered an appeal for peace and reconciliation.

Speaking in French at the Djamaa el Djazair Conference Center, Leo recalled his previous visits to Algeria in 2001 and 2013 to Annaba, the ancient see of St. Augustine, whose spiritual legacy has long shaped the Augustinian order to which the pope belongs.

“I am here among you as a pilgrim of peace, eager to meet the noble Algerian people,” the pope said. “We are brothers and sisters, for we have the same Father in heaven.”

Leo said the “profound religious sense of the Algerian people” fosters “a culture of encounter and reconciliation,” adding that his visit also seeks to be a sign of that spirit.

“In a world full of conflicts and misunderstandings, let us meet and strive for mutual understanding, recognizing that we are one family!” he said. “Today, the simplicity of this awareness is the key to opening many doors that are closed.”

Addressing an audience of about 1,400 people from civil society and the diplomatic corps, the pope praised the resilience of the Algerian people, saying they had never been defeated by their trials because of their spirit of solidarity, hospitality, and community.

“They are the truly strong ones, to whom the future belongs: those who do not allow themselves to be blinded by power or wealth, and those who refuse to sacrifice the dignity of their fellow citizens for the sake of personal or collective gain,” he said.

Leo also highlighted the Algerian understanding of hospitality and almsgiving, reflected in the word “sadaka,” which he noted can also mean justice.

“The one who accumulates wealth and remains indifferent to others is unjust,” the pope said, calling this vision of justice both “simple and radical” because it recognizes the image of God in others. “Indeed, a religion without mercy and a society without solidarity are a scandal in God’s eyes.”

At the same time, he warned that many societies that consider themselves advanced are falling ever deeper into inequality and exclusion, while “people and organizations that dominate others destroy the world.” He said Africa knows this reality well and suggested that Algeria’s historical experience gives it a critical perspective on global power balances.

“If you are able to engage in dialogue regarding the concerns of all and show solidarity with the sufferings of so many countries near and far, then you will be able to contribute to both envisioning and bringing about greater justice among peoples,” Leo said.

He added that this task is especially urgent “in the face of continuous violations of international law and neocolonial tendencies.”

Drawing on the teaching of Benedict XVI and Pope Francis, Leo called on Algeria’s authorities not to fear a broader social participation by those on the margins.

“I therefore urge those of you who hold positions of authority in this country not to fear this outlook but to promote a vibrant, dynamic, and free civil society, in which young people in particular are recognized as capable of helping to broaden the horizon of hope for all,” he said.

“The true strength of a nation lies in the cooperation of everyone in pursuing the common good,” he continued. “Authorities are called not to dominate but to serve the people and foster their development.”

The pope also pointed to Algeria’s unique role as “a bridge between North and South, and between East and West,” describing the Mediterranean and the Sahara as geographical and spiritual crossroads rich with human and cultural meaning.

“Woe to us if we turn them into graveyards where hope also dies!” he said. “Let us multiply oases of peace; let us denounce and remove the causes of despair; and let us oppose those who profit from the misfortune of others!”

“For illicit are the gains of those who exploit human life, whose dignity is inviolable,” he added.

Leo then broadened his reflection to the place of religion in modern society, noting that Algeria, like much of the world, experiences tensions between religious sensibility and modern life. He warned against both fundamentalism and secularization when they distort the true sense of God and human dignity.

“Religious symbols and words can become, on the one hand, blasphemous languages of violence and oppression, or on the other, empty signs in the immense marketplace of consumption that does not satisfy us,” he said.

Still, the pope insisted that such polarization should not lead to despair.

“We must educate people in critical thinking and freedom, in listening and dialogue, and in the trust that leads us to recognize in those who are different fellow travelers and not threats,” he said. “We must work toward the healing of memory and reconciliation among former adversaries.”

In his introduction, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune called Leo’s presence the first visit of a pope to Algeria and said it gave the occasion “a unique resonance.” He invoked both St. Augustine and Emir Abdelkader as enduring models at a time of accelerating change and weakening moral values.

Tebboune also praised the pope’s moral authority and his support for social justice while reaffirming Algeria’s commitment to working with the Holy Father to promote dialogue, coexistence, and cooperation over division and conflict.

This story was first published by ACI Stampa, the Italian-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

ALGIERS, Algeria — Pope Leo XIV arrived in Algeria on Monday and delivered his first address in the country at the Maqam Echahid Martyrs’ Monument, where he urged forgiveness and said that “the future belongs to men and women of peace.”

The visit marked the first time a pope has set foot in Algeria. After a roughly two-hour flight, Leo traveled first not to meet diplomats or civil authorities but to the national monument honoring those who died in Algeria’s struggle for independence.

In intermittent rain, the pope laid a wreath at the monument and paused in prayer as a military band played. He then addressed those gathered, opening with the greeting: “Peace be with you! As-salamu alaykum!”

Leo said he had come to Algeria “as the successor of the apostle Peter” but “first and foremost as a brother” seeking to renew bonds of affection. Looking at the Algerian people, he said, “I see the face of a strong and young people, whose hospitality and fraternity I have experienced frequently.”

“In the Algerian heart, friendship, trust, and solidarity are not merely words but values that matter and give warmth and strength to your life together,” the pope said.

Reflecting on Algeria’s history, Leo acknowledged both its deep traditions and its painful periods of violence. “Our presence here at this monument pays tribute to this history of Algeria and to the very spirit of a people who fought for the independence, dignity, and sovereignty of this nation,” he said.

The pope then turned to his central theme: peace rooted in justice, dignity, and forgiveness.

“God desires peace for every nation: a peace that is not merely an absence of conflict but one that is an expression of justice and dignity,” he said. “This peace, which allows us to face the future with a reconciled spirit, is possible only through forgiveness.”

“The true struggle for liberation will be definitively won only when peace in our hearts has finally been achieved,” Leo added. “I know how difficult it is to forgive. However, as conflicts continue to multiply throughout the world, we cannot add resentment upon resentment, generation after generation.”

He continued: “The future belongs to men and women of peace. In the end, justice will always triumph over injustice, just as violence, despite all appearances, will never have the last word.”

Speaking in a country shaped by multiple cultures and religions, Leo said “mutual respect is the path that enables everyone to walk together” and expressed hope that Algeria would continue contributing “to stability and dialogue within the international community and along the shores of the Mediterranean.”

The pope also praised the place of faith in Algerian society, saying that “faith in God has a central place in your heritage.”

“A nation that loves God possesses true wealth, and the Algerian people cherish this jewel as one of their treasures,” he said. “Our world needs believers like this — men and women of faith who thirst for justice and unity.”

Leo warned against the false promise of material wealth, saying there are those who “search for riches that fade away, deceive, and disappoint, and which sadly often end up corrupting the human heart, giving rise to envy, rivalry, and conflict.” Quoting Christ, he asked: “For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life?”

He said the dead honored at the monument had already answered that question: “They lost their lives but in doing so, they gave them up for the love of their own people.”

“May their example sustain the people of Algeria and all of us on our journey, for true freedom is not merely inherited, it is chosen anew every day,” the pope said.

Leo concluded by reading the beatitudes.

The pope landed in Algiers at about 10:30 a.m. local time and was welcomed at the airport before a private greeting with Algeria’s president. Because Catholics make up only a small minority in the country, the visit is not expected to feature large crowds.

Still, the city prepared carefully for the papal arrival, with some facades refreshed, roads repaved, green spaces embellished, and large flower pots placed along part of the route.

Cardinal Jean-Paul Vesco, archbishop of Algiers, welcomed Leo by describing the Algerian people as proud yet marked by a painful history. He said they are “strong in their youth” while still bearing the memory of martyrs from different eras, including the colonial period, the war of independence, and the violence of the 1990s and 2000s.

This story was first published by ACI Stampa, the Italian-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

“Even Just One of These Children” is the title chosen by Pope Leo XIV for the 112th World Day of Migrants and Refugees, which will be held on Sept. 27.

As reported by the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development in an April 9 statement, the title chosen by the pontiff makes direct reference to the Gospel of St. Matthew: “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me” (Mt 18:5).

In doing so, the Holy Father wishes to express the Church’s concern for minors who, due to various circumstances, are compelled to undergo the experience of migration.

Through this theme, Pope Leo XIV appeals to the responsibility of the Church and of all the faithful, “recalling the duty to welcome each one of them, as the Gospel teaches us,” according to the statement.

As the dicastery pointed out, the current migration landscape poses new challenges that seriously threaten the rights and dignity of children, thereby requiring urgent and effective responses.

“It is not a matter of discussing numbers or percentages, because ‘even just one’ has the highest value,” the dicastery emphasized.

The Catholic Church has observed this day since 1914 to demonstrate its concern for vulnerable people who are forced to flee their homes.

The dicastery also invited the faithful to reflect and to pray for all those individuals facing numerous challenges and to raise awareness regarding the opportunities that migration can offer.

In his message for the 2025 World Day of Migrants and Refugees, the Holy Father affirmed that Catholic refugees “can become missionaries of hope in the countries that welcome them” while emphasizing their capacity to "revitalize ecclesial communities that have become rigid and weighed down.”

On the occasion of the World Day of Prayer and Reflection against Human Trafficking in February, the pope also denounced the “the same logic of dominion and disregard for human life,” particularly toward displaced persons, migrants, and refugees.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT — Pope Leo XIV said Monday that he will continue to speak out “loudly” against war, stressing that his role is to preach the Gospel, not to enter into political disputes.

Speaking to journalists aboard the papal flight to Algiers on April 13, the pope responded to a question about a post by U.S. President Donald Trump.

“I think people who read it will be able to draw their own conclusions. I am not a politician, and I have no intention of entering into a debate with him,” Leo said.

The pope said he would remain outspoken in condemning war and promoting peace.

“I have no fear neither of the Trump administration nor of speaking out loudly about the message of the Gospel,” he said in comments to a different journalist. “That’s what I believe I am called to do and what the Church is called to do. Weʼre not politicians. Weʼre not looking to make foreign policy, as [Trump] calls it, with the same perspective that he might understand it.”

“But I do believe that the message of the Gospel, ‘blessed are the peacemakers,’ is a message that the world needs to hear today.”

U.S. bishops’ president ‘disheartened’ by Trump attack on Pope Leo

The pope also reflected on the meaning of his trip to Algeria, describing it as both a personal blessing and an important opportunity for the Church and the wider world.

“As you know, I am very happy to visit once again the land of St. Augustine,” he said. He noted that the saint offers “a very important bridge in interreligious dialogue” and remains deeply loved in his homeland.

Leo said the visit would allow him to see the places associated with the life of St. Augustine, including the places where he served as bishop.

“Today is truly a blessing for me personally, but I believe also for the Church and for the world, because we must always seek bridges in order to build peace and reconciliation,” he said.

The trip, he added, is “a most precious opportunity” to continue proclaiming the same message with the same voice: “We want to promote peace, reconciliation, and respect and consideration for all peoples.”

He concluded by thanking the journalists traveling with him.

“Welcome, everyone. I am happy to greet you,” the pope said. “Have a good trip, and thank you for the service you offer to all the people.”

This story was first published by ACI Stampa, the Italian-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

Correction: Quotations attributed to Pope Leo XIV in this article have been revised based on audio recordings of his comments.

ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT — Pope Leo XIV said Monday that he will continue to speak out “loudly” against war, stressing that his role is to preach the Gospel, not to enter into political disputes.

Speaking to journalists aboard the papal flight to Algiers on April 13, the pope responded to a question about a post by U.S. President Donald Trump.

“I think people who read it will be able to draw their own conclusions. I am not a politician, and I have no intention of entering into a debate with him,” Leo said. “Rather, let us always seek peace and put an end to wars.”

“I am not afraid of the Trump administration,” he added. “I speak about the Gospel; I am not a politician. I do not think the message of the Gospel should be misused in the way some people are doing.”

The pope said he would remain outspoken in condemning war and promoting peace.

“I will continue to speak out loudly against war, to seek to promote peace and multilateral dialogue among states in order to find just solutions to problems,” he said. “The message of the Church is the message of the Gospel: Blessed are the peacemakers.”

Leo underscored that he does not see his mission in political terms.

“I do not look at my role as that of a politician. I do not want to enter into a debate with him. Too many people are suffering in the world,” he said.

U.S. bishops' president 'disheartened' by Trump attack on Pope Leo

The pope also reflected on the meaning of his trip to Algeria, describing it as both a personal blessing and an important opportunity for the Church and the wider world.

“As you know, I am very happy to visit once again the land of St. Augustine,” he said. He noted that the saint offers “a very important bridge in interreligious dialogue” and remains deeply loved in his homeland.

Leo said the visit would allow him to see the places associated with the life of St. Augustine, including the places where he served as bishop.

“Today is truly a blessing for me personally, but I believe also for the Church and for the world, because we must always seek bridges in order to build peace and reconciliation,” he said.

The trip, he added, is “a most precious opportunity” to continue proclaiming the same message with the same voice: “We want to promote peace, reconciliation, and respect and consideration for all peoples.”

He concluded by thanking the journalists traveling with him.

“Welcome, everyone. I am happy to greet you,” the pope said. “Have a good trip, and thank you for the service you offer to all the people.”

This story was first published by ACI Stampa, the Italian-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

Pope Leo XIV departed Monday for Algeria, the first stop on a 10-day trip to Africa that marks the third international journey of his pontificate.

The pope’s April 13–23 visit will also include stops in Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea, making it the longest trip of his pontificate so far. After earlier visits to Turkey and Lebanon and a brief trip to the Principality of Monaco, Leo is now traveling to four African nations with distinct histories, cultures, and pastoral realities.

The first stop is Algeria, where Leo will be from April 13–15. The visit is expected to focus especially on encounter and fraternity. Catholics in Algeria number only a few thousand in a country of about 48 million Muslims.

For the first time, a pope is visiting the land of St. Augustine — a fitting destination for Leo XIV, who described himself on May 8, when he first appeared as pope from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, as “a son of St. Augustine.”

From Algeria, Leo will travel April 15 to Cameroon, where he will remain until April 18. His itinerary there includes the capital, Yaoundé, as well as Douala, the country’s economic center, and Bamenda, which lies at the heart of the so-called Anglophone conflict. Douala and Bamenda are also considered strongholds of political opposition to the government of President Paul Biya, who has been in power since 1982.

Leo XIV will be the third pope to visit Cameroon, after St. John Paul II, who traveled there in 1985 and 1995, and Benedict XVI, who visited in 2009.

Like Benedict XVI during that 2009 trip, Leo will also visit Angola. He is scheduled to be in Luanda, Muxima, and Saurimo from April 18–21.

The pope’s final stop will be Equatorial Guinea, where he will be from April 21–23 to mark the 170th anniversary of the country’s evangelization.

The flight to Algeria was expected to last about two hours, with the papal plane crossing over Italy and France before arriving in Algiers.

Before his departure, Leo sent a telegram to Italian President Sergio Mattarella.

“At the moment when I am preparing to make the apostolic journey to Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea,” the pope wrote, “moved by the lively desire to meet the brothers and sisters in the faith and the inhabitants of those dear nations, I am pleased to address to you, Mr. President, the expression of my respectful greeting, which I accompany with fervent prayers for the good and prosperity of the entire Italian people.”

This story was originally published by ACI Stampa, EWTN News’ Italian-language partner agency. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

Follow here for live updates of Pope Leo XIV’s journey to Africa from April 13–23.

“The Sunday Eucharist is indispensable for Christian life,” said Pope Leo XIV before reciting the Marian prayer of the Regina Caeli on April 12 in St. Peterʼs Square.

Speaking to crowds gathered in the square, the pope noted his upcoming departure for Africa, where “some martyrs of the early African Church, the Martyrs of Abitene, have left us a beautiful testimony in this regard."

"Faced with the offer to save their lives on the condition that they renounce celebrating the Eucharist, they replied that they could not live without celebrating the Lord’s Day. It is there that our faith is nourished and grows,” the Holy Father said.

“Because it is through the Eucharist that even our hands become ‘hands of the Risen One,’ witnesses of his presence, of his mercy, and of his peace, in the signs of work, of sacrifices, of illness, and of the passing of the years, which are often engraved upon them — just as in the tenderness of a caress, a handshake, or a gesture of charity," he said.

In his commentary on the April 12 Gospel for the second Sunday of Easter — dedicated by Pope John Paul II to Divine Mercy — the pope spoke about the faithfulʼs encounter with Jesus: “Where can we find him? How can we recognize him? How can we believe?”

“Certainly, it is not always easy to believe. It was not easy for Thomas, and it is not easy for us either. Faith needs to be nourished and supported. For this reason, on the ‘eighth day,’ that is, every Sunday, the Church invites us to do as the first disciples did: to gather together and celebrate the Eucharist as one," he said.

The pope concluded: “In a world that is in such great need of peace, this commits us more than ever to be assiduous and faithful in our Eucharistic encounter with the Risen Lord, so that we may depart from it as witnesses of charity and bearers of reconciliation."

“May the Virgin Mary help us to do this — she who is blessed because she was the first to believe without seeing,” he said.

After the prayer, Pope Leo XIV returned to the theme of peace. Recalling the Easter celebration of the Orthodox Churches, he said: “I accompany those communities with even more intense prayer for all those who suffer because of the war, in particular for the dear people of Ukraine.”

“May the light of Christ bring comfort to afflicted hearts and strengthen the hope of peace. May the attention of the international community toward the drama of this war not diminish. I am also more than ever close to the beloved people of Lebanon in these days of sorrow, fear, and invincible hope in God.”

“The principle of humanity, inscribed in the conscience of every person and recognized in international law, entails the moral obligation to protect the civilian population from the atrocious effects of war. I appeal to the conflicting parties to cease fire and to urgently seek a peaceful solution," he said.

Next Wednesday marks three years since the beginning of the bloody conflict in Sudan. “How much the Sudanese people are suffering — innocent victims of this inhuman tragedy!“ the pope said. ”I renew my heartfelt appeal to the warring parties to silence the weapons and to begin, without preconditions, a sincere dialogue aimed at ending as soon as possible this fratricidal war.”

The pope then greeted everyone: “I extend a warm welcome to all of you, Romans and pilgrims, especially to the faithful who have celebrated Divine Mercy Sunday at the Shrine of Santo Spirito in Sassia.”

This story was first published by ACI Stampa, the Italian-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV on Sunday renewed appeals for peace in Ukraine, Lebanon, and Sudan, calling on the international community not to look away from the suffering caused by war and insisting that civilians must be shielded from its devastation.

Speaking before and after the Regina Caeli on Divine Mercy Sunday, the pope appealed for an end to fighting and urged those involved in conflicts to pursue peaceful solutions without delay.

“The principle of humanity, inscribed in the conscience of every person and recognized in international law, entails the moral obligation to protect the civilian population from the atrocious effects of war,” Leo said. “I appeal to the parties in conflict to cease fire and to seek with urgency a peaceful solution.”

Marking Easter as celebrated by the Orthodox Churches, the pope said he was accompanying those communities with more intense prayer “for all who suffer because of war, especially for the beloved Ukrainian people.”

He added: “May the light of Christ bring comfort to afflicted hearts and strengthen the hope of peace. May the attention of the international community not fail toward the drama of this war.”

Leo also expressed closeness to Lebanon, saying: “To the beloved Lebanese people too I am more than ever close in these days of sorrow, fear, and invincible hope in God.”

Turning to Sudan, the pope noted that Wednesday marks three years since the start of the bloody conflict there and lamented the suffering of the Sudanese people, whom he described as innocent victims of an inhuman tragedy.

“I renew my heartfelt appeal to the warring parties to silence the weapons and begin, without preconditions, a sincere dialogue aimed at ending this fratricidal war as soon as possible,” he said.

Before the Marian prayer, Leo reflected on the Gospel for the Second Sunday of Easter, also known as Divine Mercy Sunday, and said faith must be nourished and sustained through the Church’s weekly Eucharistic gathering.

“Sunday Eucharist is indispensable for Christian life,” the pope said.

Recalling the witness of the Martyrs of Abitene ahead of his departure for Africa, he said the early African martyrs had left the Church “a beautiful testimony” when, faced with the offer of saving their lives if they renounced celebrating the Eucharist, they answered that they could not live without celebrating the Lord’s Day.

“It is there that our faith is nourished and grows,” he said.

Leo said that, like St. Thomas, Christians today can find belief difficult, but that the Church invites the faithful every Sunday, the “eighth day,” to gather and celebrate the Eucharist together, as the first disciples did.

“In a world that has such great need of peace, this commits us more than ever to be assiduous and faithful in our eucharistic encounter with the Risen One, so that we may set out again from it as witnesses of charity and bearers of reconciliation,” he said.

The pope also said that “it is through the Eucharist that our hands too become ‘hands of the Risen One,’ witnesses of his presence, his mercy, his peace.”

At the end of the Regina Caeli, Leo greeted pilgrims and asked for prayers ahead of his 10-day apostolic journey beginning Monday to Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea.

This story was originally published by ACI Stampa, EWTN News' Italian-language partner agency. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

“Enough of war!” Pope Leo XIV cried out while presiding over a vigil for peace at St. Peterʼs Basilica in the Vatican on April 11.

Prior to the vigil in the basilica — which the pope announced on Easter Sunday, April 5, amid ongoing war in Iran and in the Holy Land — the Holy Father briefly addressed the thousands of faithful present in St. Peterʼs Square to participate in the vigil, whom he thanked for their presence while reminding them that it is possible to build peace.

The pope then entered the basilica to direct the prayer of the rosary, meditating on the glorious mysteries, each accompanied by a biblical reading and a reflection of Saint Cyprian of Cartagena, Saint Caesar of Arles, Saint John Chrysostom, Saint Ambrose of Milan and, as is customary, Saint Augustine, all Fathers of the Church.

In addition, and as a sign of peace, before each of the mysteries, a delegation from each of the five continents lit a candle at the foot of the image of Mary, Queen of Peace.

Continental delegates light a candle at the foot of a statue of the Blessed Mother during a peace vigil at St. Peterʼs Basilica, Saturday, Apr. 11, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media

In his speech, the pope said that “war divides, hope unites. Arrogance tramples, love lifts. Blind idolatry, the living God illuminates.”

“A little faith is enough — a pinch of faith, dear brothers — to face together, as humanity and with humanity, this dramatic hour of history.”

"Prayer, in fact, is not a refuge to evade our responsibilities, it is not a painkiller to avoid the pain that unleashes so much injustice," the pope said. "It is, on the other hand, the most free, universal and disruptive response to death: We are a people who are already resurrected!”

“Letʼs get up from the rubble again!” the pope said. “Nothing can lock us in an already-written destiny, not even in this world in which the graves seem not to be enough, because life continues to be crucified, annihilated, without right and without mercy.”

Leo XIV then recalled the message of St. John Paul II in January of 2003 amid the burgeoning conflict in Iraq in which — while referencing his having survived World War II — the Polish-born pope said: "Never again war!"

Pope Leo stressed that prayer is among the things that “break the demonic chain of evil and put themselves at the service of the Kingdom of God; a kingdom in which there is no sword, no drones, no revenge, no trivialization of evil, no unfair profit, but only dignity, understanding and forgiveness.”

With prayer, he continued, there is "a barrier against that delirium of omnipotence that becomes increasingly unpredictable and aggressive around us. The balances in the human family are severely destabilized.”

After lamenting that “the Holy Name of God — the God of life — is dragged into death speeches,” Leo XIV said that an individual is subjected to this death if he “has turned his back on the living God, to make himself and his own power the mute, blind and deaf idol (cf. Ps 115,4-8), to whom to sacrifice all value and pretend that the whole world bends before him.”

“Enough of self-idolation and money! Enough of the show of strength! Enough of the war! True strength is manifested in the service to life,” the pope said.

The pontiff encouraged the world to overcome the “madness of war” and urged rulers: “Stop! Itʼs time for peace! Sit at tables of dialogue and mediation, not at tables where rearmament is planned and death actions are deliberated.”

Pope Leo specified that this is not only the responsibility of the rulers but of all, since “each one has his place in the mosaic of peace!”

The strength of the rosary

“The rosary, like other very old forms of prayer, has united us this afternoon in its regular rhythm, based on repetition,” the pope said. “This is how peace makes its way, word after word, gesture after gesture. Like a rock, it is sculpted drop by drop. As in a loom, the fabric advances movement after movement. They are the long times of life, a sign of Godʼs patience.”

After urging the faithful not to fall into the “acceleration of a world that does not know what it pursues, to return to serve the rhythm of life, the harmony of creation, and heal its wounds,” Leo recalled that the Church “is a great people at the service of reconciliation and peace, which advances without hesitation, even when the rejection of the logic of war can cost incomprehension and contempt.”

The Church “announces the Gospel of peace and educates to obey God before men, especially when it comes to the infinite dignity of other human beings, endangered by the continuous violations of international law,” he said.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

On April 10, Pope Leo XIV received French President Emmanuel Macron for the first time since the beginning of his pontificate. Accompanying Macron was his wife, Brigitte.

Following the closed-door meeting at the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace that lasted an hour, the French president said he was “very happy” to have met with the Holy Father, adding that both share “a common conviction: In the face of the world’s divisions, action for peace is a duty and a requirement.”

“France will always work toward dialogue, justice, and fraternity among peoples,” Macron wrote on X.

The Élysée Palace saw this meeting as an opportunity to “recognize the essential role of the Holy See and the Holy Father’s personal commitment to peace, dialogue, and solidarity among peoples, as well as to demonstrate France’s willingness to work jointly with the Holy See toward this end.”

During the traditional exchange of gifts, Macron presented Pope Leo XIV with a French national basketball team jersey signed by the players, a book on the reconstruction of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris following the 2019 fire, and a map of the Mississippi region created by French missionaries in 1617.

French President Emmanuel Macron presents Pope Leo XIV with a French national basketball team jersey in a meeting at the Vatican on April 10, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media

The pontiff presented the French president with a decorative ceramic tile symbolizing abundance, along with his message for this yearʼs World Day of Peace.

According to the Vatican, Macron subsequently met with the Holy See’s secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and with Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, secretary for relations with states and international organizations.

During the meeting at the Secretariat of State, they addressed various international issues, particularly conflicts around the world.

Both Macron and Vatican officials expressed the hope that peaceful coexistence might be restored through dialogue and negotiation.

The day before, on April 9, Macron visited the Sant’Egidio Community in Rome, an organization characterized by its promotion of international ecumenical prayer gatherings for peace.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

Pope Leo XIV on Friday appointed Father Andrea Ciucci chancellor of the Pontifical Academy for Life. The Italian priest has served as the academyʼs secretariat coordinator since 2016.

Originally from Milan, the 59-year-old Ciucci has a doctorate in the philosophy of religion from the Pontifical University of Sant’Anselmo in Rome. After serving as a parish vicar in Milan, he worked at the former Pontifical Council for the Family from 2012–2016.

He is also the general secretary of the RenAIssance Foundation, a Vatican institution that promotes an ethical perspective on artificial intelligence.

Ciucci is a professor at the Pontifical Theological Institute John Paul II in Rome and he is a public speaker and writer on the topic of new technologies and their influence on young people and families.

Last month, the president of the Pontifical Academy for Life, Renzo Pegoraro, received the title of “bishop” from Pope Leo for his role.

Pegoraro was chancellor of the academy from 2011 until his appointment as president in May 2025.

According to the academyʼs statutes, the chancellor “may represent the Pontifical Academy for Life on behalf of the president and collaborates with him in the direction and administration of the academy’s activities.”

The Pontifical Academy for Life was founded in February 1994 by St. John Paul II. It is one of several academic and cultural institutions at the Vatican that bring together experts in their fields to discuss issues of relevance to the Church and the world.

The bishops of the Chaldean Catholic Church met with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on Friday as part of their synodal meetings in Rome to elect a new patriarch. The encounter comes after Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako resigned as patriarch last month, prompting the bishops to gather in the Italian capital.

The electoral synod represents a pivotal moment in the life of the Chaldean Catholic Church, as the bishops are expected to choose a new shepherd to lead Chaldean Catholics amid complex internal and national challenges. The meetings also reflect a broader dimension that goes beyond the local framework, highlighting a close relationship with the Holy See.

Leoʼs hope for the next patriarch

The Holy Father addressed the bishops on April 10, praying that the Holy Spirit would guide them in their election of a patriarch. He expressed the hope that the patriarch would be a father in faith and a sign of unity; a person of the beatitudes who lives daily holiness based on fidelity, mercy, and purity of heart; and a shepherd close to his people, steadfast in prayer, capable of facing difficulties with hope, and working with the bishops in a spirit of unity.

The pope described the Chaldeans as guardians of a living and noble memory, and of a faith transmitted through the centuries with courage and fidelity. He added that their history is glorious but also marked by harsh experiences: wars, persecutions, and trials that affected their communities and scattered many believers around the world.

Leo further stated that it is precisely in these wounds that the witness of faith shines, because a Church that bears the scars of history shows how wounds, in the risen Lord, can become signs of hope and new life. He affirmed his closeness to them in their trials, calling for communion with Christians of other denominations.

He urged the bishops to remain vigilant and transparent in managing Church property, to exercise moderation and responsibility in the use of media, and to be cautious in public statements so that every word contributes to building ecclesial communion rather than harm it. He also emphasized the importance of forming priests, supporting consecrated persons, and accompanying laypeople. He highlighted the importance of believers remaining in their homelands and respecting the freedom of Christians in the Middle East.

He also described those present as signs of hope in a world full of violence, noting that they are called to be peacemakers, since only dialogue creates true peace. He said they have a great mission: to proclaim the risen Christ and keep hope alive.

Pope Leo XIV greets Chaldean Catholic bishops during an audience at the Vatican on April 10, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media Sako bids farewell to his Church

Leo accepted the resignation of Sako on March 10, one day after the patriarch requested to step down to “dedicate himself quietly to prayer, writing, and simple service.”

In a farewell letter April 9, Sako expressed his deep gratitude to all those who supported him during his 13 years as patriarch, noting his profound emotion at the messages of solidarity he received from Church figures and believers of different backgrounds. He affirmed his commitment to pray for the Church and the bishops gathered in Rome, calling for the election of a patriarch who embodies unity and serves the people with love.

Sako also emphasized his neutrality in the electoral process, considering his absence from the synod an expression of respect for the bishops’ freedom. He also reviewed key aspects of his ministry, through which he sought to balance tradition and renewal, affirming that ecclesial tradition must remain alive and engaged with the times.

Sako noted his influence since the Second Vatican Council, his participation in Catholic Church synods, and his role in the Middle East Council of Churches. These experiences, he said, shaped his efforts to develop Church discourse in liturgy and teaching in a modern and accessible language. He highlighted his efforts to strengthen Christian-Muslim dialogue, unify Church positions, defend the presence of Christians in Iraq, and advocate for a state based on citizenship and equality. He said he considers his resignation not an end but the beginning of a new phase of quiet service.

After the election and announcement of a new patriarch, a holy Mass, an expression of ecclesial communion, will be celebrated by the new leader of the Chaldean Catholic Church with Pope Leo XIV or his representative. The newly elected patriarch will also announce, in consultation with the synod fathers, the date of his enthronement at the patriarchal seat in Baghdad, the Iraqi capital.

The Vatican on Friday said the narrative in some media outlets about a meeting at the Pentagon between senior U.S. defense officials and the pope’s then-representative to the U.S. “does not correspond to the truth.”

According to Cardinal Christophe Pierre, his meeting with Undersecretary of War for Policy Elbridge A. Colby in January was part of the former nuncio’s “regular mission and provided an opportunity for an exchange of views on matters of mutual interest,” Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See Press Office, said in a statement April 10.

“The narrative presented by certain media outlets regarding this meeting does not correspond to the truth at all,” Bruni added.

Bruni’s statement followed an April 6 report by The Free Press claiming Pierre, then the apostolic nuncio to the U.S., received “a bitter lecture” in a January meeting with defense officials, reportedly because of a speech in which Pope Leo XIV criticized “a diplomacy based on force.”

According to The Free Press, the pope’s message was interpreted as a criticism of U.S. policy by Pentagon officials, who told Pierre: “America has the military power to do whatever it wants in the world. The Catholic Church had better take its side.”

The U.S. Department of Defense, in a post on X on April 9, said that a “substantive, respectful, and professional” meeting took place on Jan. 22, but “recent reporting of the meeting is highly exaggerated and distorted.”

“During the cordial meeting, they discussed a range of topics, including issues of morality in foreign policy, the logic of the U.S. National Security Strategy, Europe, Africa, Latin America, and other topics. Cardinal Pierre expressed his appreciation for the outreach and both sides looked forward to continued open and respectful dialogue,” the department said. It also shared photos from the meeting.

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The U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, Brian Burch, also commented on the Pentagon meeting on X on April 9. Burch said he had spoken to the former nuncio who “emphatically denied the media’s portrayal of his meeting with Colby.”

Pierre, Burch wrote, “described the meeting as ‘frank, but very cordial’ and a ‘normal encounter.’ He confirmed that the reporting ‘does not reflect what happened’ and was ‘just invented to make a story.’”

Catholic news outlet The Pillar reported April 10 that one senior Vatican official had described the conversation as having moments of tension, with some U.S. officials being “aggressive” and “bullying,” though “there was no question of anybody threatening anyone.”

Pope Leo accepted Pierreʼs resignation as nuncio in March for reaching the age limit and appointed Archbishop Gabriele Caccia as his new representative to the U.S.

Several bishops’ conferences around the world have echoed Pope Leo XIV’s call to pray for peace on April 11.

During his “urbi et irbi” (“to the city and the world”) message on Easter Sunday, the Holy Father called for a prayer vigil for peace to be held Saturday at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican.

Responding to that call, the president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Archbishop Paul Coakley, made “a special plea to my brother bishops, the priests, the laity, and all people yearning for true peace to join the Holy Father’s Vigil for Peace, whether virtually or in parishes, chapels, or before the Lord present in the quiet of their hearts to join with our Holy Father as we pray for peace in our world.”

The pontiff encouraged the faithful to join together to make heard “the cry for peace that springs from our hearts” and warned against growing indifference: “We are growing accustomed to violence, resigning ourselves to it, and becoming indifferent.”

“Indifferent to the deaths of thousands of people,” he continued, “indifferent to the repercussions of hatred and division that conflicts sow. Indifferent to the economic and social consequences they produce, which we all feel.”

Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, president of the Italian Bishops’ Conference, issued a statement urging priests, religious, and all believers to participate in the vigil led by the pope or to gather in prayer within their local communities to “implore the gift of reconciliation.”

“Let us halt the whirlwind of pain, suffering, and devastation; let us say our ‘no’ to war, and let us not grow accustomed to the horror,” the cardinal said.

Together with the Society of Jesus and the Conference of Major Superiors of Religious in Mexico, the Mexican Bishops’ Conference issued “an urgent call to society” to join the popeʼs campaign of prayer for peace with the theme “Let Us Make Heard the Cry for Peace That Springs from the Heart!”

“The peace that Christ offers us is both a gift and a mission. This peace is built by learning to transform conflicts into opportunities for forgiveness rather than into excuses for violence. Therefore, peace within the family and community is a daily task that requires a generous heart, willing to forgive,” the Mexican bishops stated.

The bishop of Huesca, Spain, Pedro Aguado Cuesta, has also called upon the faithful there to participate in the prayer vigil.

The prelate will lead the vigil at San Vicente el Real Church at 9 p.m. local time in communion with the initiative promoted by the Holy Father.

“Peace lies at the heart of the Gospel and at the center of human aspirations,” said Aguado, who urged the faithful to make a personal commitment to be builders of peace.

Likewise, Archbishop Gilbert Garcera, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, invited local churches to participate in the day of prayer.

“In a world increasingly marked by conflict and the ‘globalization of indifference,’ the Holy Father has invited the entire Church to unite in prayer, exhorting everyone to implore the gift of peace and to renew our commitment to dialogue, reconciliation, and nonviolence,” he said in a statement.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV on Thursday praised athletes from the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Games, saying sport “can and must truly become a space for encounter” in a world marked by “polarization, rivalry, and conflicts that escalate into devastating wars.”

Speaking in the Clementine Hall at the Vatican on April 9, the Holy Father welcomed the athletes “with joy” shortly after the conclusion of the Winter Games and thanked them for their witness.

“Thank you for what you have shown,” the pope said. “Truly, sport, when lived authentically, is not merely a performance: It is a form of language, a narrative made up of gestures, of effort, of anticipation, of falls, and of new beginnings.”

Leo XIV said the games revealed not only athletic achievement but also “stories of sacrifice, of discipline, of tenacity.”

“In particular, in Paralympic competitions we have seen how a limitation can become a source of revelation: not something that holds a person back but something that can be transformed, even transfigured into newfound qualities,” he said. “You athletes have become life stories that inspire a great number of people.”

The pope also emphasized the communal dimension of athletic success, saying: “No one wins alone.”

“Your team spirit reminds us that no one wins alone, because behind every victory there are many people involved — from family to teams — as well as many days of training, pressure, and solitude,” he said.

Quoting Psalm 18, he added: “It is often precisely in these moments that God reveals himself, as the psalmist sings: ‘Thou didst give a wide place for my steps under me, and my feet did not slip.’”

Leo XIV said sport helps mature the human person by fostering discipline, humility, and right relationships.

“Sport contributes to the maturing of our character, requires a steadfast spirituality, and is a fruitful form of education,” he said. “By training the mind, along with the limbs, sport is authentic when it remains humane — that is, when it remains faithful to its first vocation: to be a school of life and talent.”

“A school in which one learns that true success is measured by the quality of relationships: not by the amount of prizes but by mutual respect, by shared joy in the game,” he continued.

Referring to his Feb. 6 apostolic letter “Life in Abundance,” written for the occasion of the Olympics and Paralympics, the pope said the Gospel’s vision of abundant life points to harmony between the physical and interior dimensions of the person.

Turning to the present global situation, Leo XIV said the athletes’ witness carries special importance.

“At the present time, so marked by polarization, rivalry, and conflicts that escalate into devastating wars, your commitment takes on an even greater value: Sport can and must truly become a space for encounter!” he said. “Not a show of strength but an exercise in relationship.”

Recalling the value of the Olympic truce, he thanked the athletes for making visible “this possibility of peace as a prophecy that is by no means rhetorical: breaking the logic of violence to promote that of encounter.”

The pope also warned against distortions in sport, including doping, commercialism, and the reduction of athletes to mere spectacle.

“We are well aware that sport also brings with it certain temptations: that of performance at any cost, which can lead to doping; that of profit, which transforms the game into a market and the athlete into a star; that of spectacle, which reduces the athlete to an image or a number,” he said. “Against these excesses, your witness is essential.”

Leo XIV concluded by thanking the athletes for showing “an honest and beautiful way of inhabiting the world” and urged them to keep the human person at the center of sport in all its forms.

Following the audience, several of the athletes spoke to journalists about their experience of the audience and competing in the Winter Games, including speed skater Francesca Lollobrigida, who won two gold medals at Milan-Cortina this year.

Francesca Lollobrigida responds to journalists after a papal audience at the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City on April 9, 2026. | Credit: Ishmael Adibuah/EWTN News

“My goal was just to show that in my sport; I was able to combine, you know, being a mother and a top athlete,“ Lollobrigida told EWTN News. ”Iʼm just doing this for the other women, you know, that maybe at some points during their career they want to stop to focus on the family and then to come back.”

Nikko Landeros, an American-born Catholic who lost both his legs in 2007, represented Italy in ice hockey at the latest Paralympic games. He described to EWTN News the role of Catholicism in his athletic journey.

“At home, I started pretty much Catholic. You know, I went to Catholic school in the U.S. Weʼve been going to church now... not as much as I should, but, you know, I still pray every day, and Iʼm thankful to be here. You know, if it werenʼt for God, I wouldnʼt be alive. So, you know, Iʼm super thankful,” Landeros said.

This story was first published by ACI Stampa, the Italian-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

Christians are called to live the Easter message of peace, especially during times of war and violence, said a Comboni missionary priest once kidnapped in Uganda.

“On the very day of Jesus’ resurrection, on Easter day, Jesus appeared to the apostles [and] the message he delivered to them was, ‘Peace to you!’” Father Giulio Albanese, MCCJ, said in an exclusive interview with EWTN News reporter Valentina Di Donato.

“Peace, from a Christian perspective, is not simply a wish, it’s a gift, and we must be aware that this is our vocation, to bring peace to the world. What is shameful is that nowadays we are doing exactly the opposite,” he said.

Albanese, who was kidnapped in northern Uganda by armed rebels in 2002 and witnessed several atrocities of war firsthand, said today’s Christians cannot turn a blind eye to people’s sufferings.

“We have to be aware that we are living in a society, at an international level, where there are many, many contradictions,” he said.

“There are many innocent people who are slaughtered out of human selfishness. Look at what is taking place in Iran, in the Middle East, in Africa,” he continued.

In order to address the obstacles to peace, Albanese said it is necessary for Christians to undergo a conversion and to take Jesus’ Easter message of peace to heart.

“During Easter day and even in the following days we have to pray for peace because if there is a lack of peace in the world it’s because our Christianity has become meaningless,” he said.

After witnessing the violent killings of a woman and her young children in Uganda, Albanese shared with Di Donato how his faith in the risen Jesus was put to the test.

“I must be sincere, in that very moment, I started screaming against the Lord, I said, ‘Lord where are you? Why are you allowing innocent people [to be] killed like that in that way? Why do they have to suffer in such a way? Lord have you forgotten us? Have you forgotten these people?” he said.

But it was through the help of an elderly priest that Albanese was able to sense the presence of God, when he was told: “You should ask yourself where is man, not where is God.”

Describing his heartfelt conversion as a “story of resurrection,” the Comboni missionary said these days of Easter can help Christians renew their commitment to work toward peace.

“We have to believe that our life is in the hands of God,” he said. “The Lord is faithful, and in the very moment you live an experience like this you understand also the significance of life.”

During Holy Week, Pope Leo XIV made several pleas to world leaders to bring all conflict and violence to an end.

Describing Jesus Christ as the “King of Peace” during the Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square, the Holy Father said God does not listen to those who “wage war.”

“Just as the Church contemplates the mystery of the Lord’s passion, we cannot forget those who today are truly sharing in his suffering,” he said in his March 29 homily.

On Easter Sunday, the pope renewed his prayerful petition for peace during his “urbi et orbi” blessing delivered from the central loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica.

“The peace that Jesus gives us is not merely the silence of weapons but the peace that touches and transforms the heart of each one of us!” he said. “Let us allow ourselves to be transformed by the peace of Christ! Let us make heard the cry for peace that springs from our hearts!”

Pope Leo will preside over a prayer vigil for peace in St. Peter’s Basilica on April 11.

VATICAN CITY — Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin warned that the “logic of the strongest” risks prevailing on the international stage and called on Christians to become “voices of peace” who do not leave Pope Leo XIV standing alone in his opposition to war.

In an interview with Dialoghi, a cultural magazine linked to Italian Catholic Action, Parolin said the voice of the pope is “prophetic” but risks becoming “a voice crying in the wilderness if it is not supported and helped concretely.”

His remarks also offer a key to understanding the peace prayer vigil Leo XIV has called for April 11 in St. Peter’s Basilica.

Parolin recalled the 2003 Iraq war, when St. John Paul II pleaded for the conflict to be avoided but “was left alone.” He therefore stressed the need to support the current pontiff’s appeal for a peace that is “unarmed and disarming” and to reject “the false propaganda of rearmament.”

“There is a need for more voices of peace, more voices against the madness of the rush toward rearmament, more voices raised in favor of our poorest brothers and sisters, more voices and more proposals — I am thinking, for example, of the world of Catholic universities — for new economic models inspired by justice and care for the weakest instead of the idolatry of money,” Parolin said.

The cardinal described an alarming international climate in which military action appears to impose itself too easily.

“I am struck by how much determination — I was about to say ease — with which the military option is presented as decisive, almost inevitable,” he said.

According to the Vatican secretary of state, this trend has left diplomacy practically “mute,” unable to activate alternative tools, while awareness of the tragedy of war and the value of shared rules is being lost.

Parolin said the root of the problem is a “multi-polarism inspired by the primacy of power,” in which states place greater trust in force than in international law. That, he said, has produced “double standards,” visible in the differing reactions to attacks on civilians in Ukraine and the destruction in Gaza.

“Many governments,” Parolin said, “have expressed indignation over attacks against Ukrainian civilians by Russian missiles and drones, imposing sanctions on the aggressors.”

“I do not think the same has happened with the tragedy of the destruction of Gaza,” he added.

For the cardinal, this is a case of “double standards” tied to the “primacy of power” — the dominance of one’s own country over others — with international law invoked “only when convenient” and ignored in many other cases.

“It seems there has been a lack of awareness of the value of peace, awareness of the tragic reality of war, awareness of the importance of shared rules and of respecting them,” he said.

Parolin also lamented the weakening of the global diplomatic architecture and said it is “utopian” to think peace can be guaranteed “by weapons and by balances imposed by the strongest rather than by international agreements.”

“We cannot surrender to the logic of the strongest,” the cardinal insisted, because that logic “bends international law to its own interests” and weakens multilateral institutions.

In that context, he also expressed regret that Europe has been unable to speak with one voice. He said it is necessary “to rekindle in peoples the sense of European belonging and, in leadership, the awareness of the need for common actions without ever failing the principles that are at the foundation of the European Union itself.”

Regarding the United Nations, Parolin said the Holy See “continues to believe in its importance,” considering international organizations essential for restraining the logic of the strongest. At the same time, he acknowledged that the use of the veto has limited the U.N.’s ability to act.

“We cannot move from the force of law to the law of force,” he warned.

Parolin also highlighted the role believers can play, including defending life and human dignity, protecting religious freedom, promoting reforms to the economic and financial system in line with the Church’s social doctrine, and caring for creation.

Finally, the cardinal addressed the cultural impact of new technologies, saying hyper-connectivity and the spread of fake news help fuel fear and build new walls.

“As Christians, we must oppose this drift with our daily lives,” he concluded.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.