Pope Leo XIV appeals for peace in 2026 New 12 months's Day tackle message to world

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Pope Leo XIV opened the brand new 12 months Thursday with an enchantment to the world for peace and urging folks all over the place to start 2026 by rejecting violence and committing themselves to reconciliation.

Talking throughout his first Angelus address of 2026, the pope invited the trustworthy to "construct a 12 months of peace, by disarming our hearts and refraining from each type of violence."

Round 40,000 gathered in St. Peter’s Square in Rome to listen to the pope’s New 12 months's Day message on the Solemnity of Mary, the Mom of God, which additionally coincides with the World Day of Peace .

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Pope Leo XIV delivered a peace message to 40,000 gathered in St. Peter's Sq. on Thursday. (Alberto Pizzoli / AFP by way of Getty Photos))

Firstly of his tackle, Pope Leo prolonged his needs for peace and each good within the new 12 months and supplied a particular greeting to the president of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella.

Following the Angelus prayer, the pope mentioned that Jan. 1 has been marked because the World Day of Peace since 1968, on the initiative of Pope St. Paul VI.

Reflecting on the that means of the day, Pope Leo referred to the phrases that got here to him after his election as bishop of Rome: "Peace be with you all."

"This peace," the pope mentioned, "is unarmed and disarming. It comes from God; it's a present of his unconditional love, and it's entrusted to our accountability."

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The pontiff spoke throughout his first Angelus of 2026 on the World Day of Peace. (Alberto Pizzoli / AFP by way of Getty Photos)

He additionally emphasised that peace is not something imposed by drive, however a present that wants private conversion and selections in day by day life.

Calling on Christians and all folks of goodwill, Pope Leo urged them to start instantly.

"With Christ’s grace ," he mentioned, "allow us to begin at present to construct a 12 months of peace, disarming our hearts and refraining from all violence."

The pope acknowledged that efforts to construct peace are already underway the world over and expressed appreciation for people and organizations devoted to ending battle and selling dialogue.

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Pope Leo XIV delivers World Day of Peace message calling for international reconciliation in 2026. (Alberto Pizzoli / AFP by way of Getty Photos)

In step with the peacekeeping theme, he highlighted a nationwide peace march held Dec. 31 in Catania, Italy, and talked about one other organized by members of the Group of Sant’Egidio, identified for its worldwide peace initiatives.

Pope Leo additionally welcomed college students and lecturers from Richland, New Jersey , who have been within the sq. watching.

On the finish of the tackle, the pope spoke in regards to the 800th anniversary of the dying of St. Francis of Assisi, a determine additionally intently related to peace.

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He closed with the saint’s biblical blessing: "The Lord bless you and hold you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord carry his countenance upon you and give you peace ."

Pope Leo ended by entrusting the brand new 12 months to Mary, the Mom of God, asking that she information humanity on its journey within the new 12 months.

Emma Bussey is a breaking information author for Fox Information Digital. Earlier than becoming a member of Fox, she labored at The Telegraph with the U.S. in a single day crew, throughout desks together with international, politics, information, sport and tradition.