During Pope Leo XIV's Prayer Vigil for Peace in the world, the Pope appeals to leaders of nations to stop and sit at the table of dialogue and mediation, "not at the table where rearmament is planned and deadly actions are decided!" He also insists that the Church will always advance in calling for peace "even when rejecting the logic of war may lead to misunderstanding and scorn," and will always instil "obedience to God rather than any human authority."
By Deborah Castellano Lubov "I receive countless letters from children in areas of conflict. In reading them, one perceives, through the lens of innocence, all the horror and inhumanity of actions that some adults boast of with pride." Pope Leo XIV gave this chilling reminder during the Prayer Vigil for Peace he led on Saturday evening in the Vatican, as he urged, "Let us listen to the voices of children!" READ HERE POPE LEO'S FULL REFLECTION The Prayer Vigil, which Pope Leo announced during his Easter Sunday Urbi et Orbi address to the city of Rome and the world, was celebrated in St Peter's Basilica at 6 p.m. Rome time, and everyone, both in person and following from home, was invited to join. No tickets were required. Around ten thousand faithful gathered in the Basilica and outside in Saint Peter's Square. Prayer can move mountains People around the world joined the Holy Father in praying the Glorious mysteries of the Rosary, in person and remotely, with meditations from various Church Fathers, including St. Augustine of Hippo, St. John Chrysostom, and St. Ambrose of Milan. During the Rosary, faithful from different continents lit candles with the flame from the Lamp of Peace in Assisi, which burns perpetually at the tomb of St. Francis of Assisi. The Pope thanked all those present and all those praying from afar for praying for peace, noting that their prayer is an expression of that faith which, as Jesus reminded, moves mountains. He began by recalling that: "War divides; hope unites. Arrogance tramples upon others; love lifts up. Idolatry blinds us; the living God enlightens." Yet, he reassured, "all it takes is a little faith, a mere 'crumb' of faith, in order to face this dramatic hour in history together — as humanity and alongside humanity." He emphasized that prayer is not "a refuge in which to hide from our responsibilities, nor an anesthetic to numb the pain provoked by so much injustice," but rather is "the most selfless, universal and transformative response to death." Nothing can confine us to a predetermined fate In this context, he argued, "Nothing can confine us to a predetermined fate, not even in this world where there never seem to be enough graves, for people continue to crucify one another and eliminate life, with no regard to justice and mercy." Pope Leo remembered Saint Pope John Paul II's adamant appeals for "no more war" and his insistence on our responsibility to do everything possible to counter it. As we pursue peace, the Holy Father marveled how prayer teaches us how to act. "In prayer," Pope Leo marveled, "our limited human possibilities are joined to the infinite possibilities of God." Moreover, he reflected, thoughts, words and deeds then "break the demonic cycle of evil and are placed at the service of the Kingdom of God. A Kingdom in which there is no sword, no drone, no vengeance, no trivialization of evil, no unjust profit, but only dignity, understanding and forgiveness." True strength comes from serving life, not from displays of power The Pope warned likewise against the idolatry of self and money. "Enough of the display of power! Enough of war! True strength," rather he said, "is shown in serving life." Thus the Pope encouraged, let us "unite the moral and spiritual strength of the millions and billions of men and women, young and old, who today choose to believe in peace, caring for the wounds and repairing the damage left behind by the madness of war." In this context, he recalled the traumatic effects on innocent children who suffer the terror of war, and called on humanity to hear their cry and protect them. Appeal to the leaders of nations to pursue dialogue and mediation The Pope reaffirmed the "certainly binding responsibilities that fall to the leaders of nations." "To them we cry out," Pope Leo said, "Stop! It is time for peace! Sit at the table of dialogue and mediation, not at the table where rearmament is planned and deadly actions are decided!" Yet, he noted, an equally significant responsibility falls to all of us men and women from all over the world, to reject war, not only in word, but in deed. Prayer calls us to leave behind whatever violence remains in our hearts and minds. Let us turn to a Kingdom of peace that is built up day by day — in our homes, schools, neighborhoods, and civil and religious communities. Such a Kingdom, he added, is to counter polemics and resignation through friendship and a culture of encounter. Let us believe again in moderation and good politics "Let us believe once again in love, moderation and good politics. We must form ourselves and get personally involved, each following our own calling. Everyone has a place in the mosaic of peace!" He went on to observe that the Rosary, like other ancient forms of prayer, united the faithful this evening in its steady rhythm built on repetition, pointing out that peace gains ground in the same way, "word by word, deed by deed, just as a rock is hollowed out drop by drop, or fabric woven stitch by stitch." The Holy Father reminded that these are the slow rhythms of life, a sign of God’s patience. "We must not allow ourselves to be overwhelmed by the pace of a world that does not know what it is chasing. Rather," he suggested, "we must return to serving the rhythm of life, the harmony of creation and healing its wounds." Church instills obedience to God rather than any human authority The Pope therefore said we are to all return home having made a commitment to pray without ceasing and without growing weary, and to a profound conversion of heart. Recalling the Church as a great people at the service of reconciliation and peace, the Pope pointed out that She advances without hesitation, "even when rejecting the logic of war may lead to misunderstanding and scorn." Moreover, he upheld, "She proclaims the Gospel of peace and instills obedience to God rather than any human authority, especially when the inherent dignity of other human beings is threatened by continuous violations of international law." Thus, the Pope expressed his hope that throughout the world, every community become a ‘house of peace,’ where one learns how to defuse hostility through dialogue, where justice is practiced and forgiveness is cherished. Now more than ever, he recognized, we must show that peace is not a utopia. A prayer to the Lord who conquered death without weapons or violence The Pope said that all brothers and sisters of every language, people and nation are one family that weeps, hopes and rises again, and thus, he again called on that family to embrace the appeal of his predecessor Pope, Saint John Paul II, to declare together, “No more war, a journey with no return; no more war, a vicious cycle of grief and violence.” Pope Leo concluded wishing that the peace of the Risen Christ, the fruit of His sacrifice of love on the Cross, be with all people, and inviting everyone to join him in reciting the prayer for peace below. Lord Jesus, you conquered death without weapons or violence: you shattered its power with the strength of peace. Grant us your peace, as you did to the women filled with doubt on Easter morning, as you did to the disciples who were hiding in fear. Send forth your Spirit, the breath that gives life and reconciles, that turns adversaries and enemies into brothers and sisters. Inspire in us to trust in Mary, your mother, who stood at the foot of your cross with a broken heart, firm in the faith that you would rise again. May the madness of war cease and the Earth be cared for and cultivated by those who still know how to bring forth, protect and love life. Hear us, Lord of life! Prior to the start of the Vigil for Peace, Pope Leo greeted the faithful in St. Peter’s Square and thanked them for their presence, for choosing to respond to “this call," "this invitation to unite all of us with our voices, with our hearts, with our lives in praying for peace.” Peace, he acknowledged, is something we all carry in our hearts. “May peace truly reign throughout the world, and may we be the bearers of this message.” The Pope reminded them that God listens to us and accompanies us, recalling that Jesus told us, “Where two or three are gathered in His name, He is present with us.” In these days of the Octave of Easter, Pope Leo said, we deeply believe in the presence of the Risen Jesus among us and, united in the prayer of the Holy Rosary, asking for the intercession of our Mother Mary, “we want to tell the whole world that it is possible to build peace—a new peace that can be lived together with all peoples, of all religions and of all races—that we want to be disciples of Jesus Christ, united as brothers and sisters, all united in a world of peace.