Pope Leo XIV called on world leaders in his Easter message to end ongoing conflicts and abandon ambitions for power, conquest, and domination, reports RTE.
Addressing thousands gathered in St Peter’s Square, the pope warned that people are becoming desensitised to violence and increasingly indifferent to its impact, reports RTE.
“Let those who have weapons lay them down!” the first US pope exhorted.
“Let those who have the power to unleash wars choose peace!”, reports RTE.
The pope did not refer to any specific conflicts in his traditional “Urbi et Orbi” blessing, which was notably brief and direct.
He said the Easter story demonstrates that Christ was “entirely nonviolent” and urged people to turn away from conflict, reports RTE.
“On this day of celebration, let us abandon every desire for conflict, domination, and power, and implore the Lord to grant his peace to a world ravaged by wars,” Pope Leo urged, reports RTE.
The pope, who has been increasingly vocal about global conflicts in recent weeks, has also intensified his criticism of the Iran war.
During the Easter vigil sermon, he encouraged people not to become numb to global violence and instead work towards peace, reports RTE.
He also made a rare direct appeal to Donald Trump earlier in the week, urging him to find a way to end the Iran conflict.
From the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica, the pope delivered Easter greetings in ten languages, including Latin, Arabic, and Chinese, reports RTE.
He also announced plans to return to the Basilica on April 11 to lead a prayer vigil for peace.
Across the Middle East, the conflict has cast a shadow over Easter celebrations, particularly in areas directly affected by violence, reports RTE.
In Jerusalem, services at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre are being held behind closed doors due to security concerns.
Restrictions have been imposed by Israeli authorities on large gatherings amid fears of further attacks following strikes linked to the Iran conflict, reports RTE.
“It is the first time in my life that I experience a total closure” of the Holy Sepulchre, Jack Straw, a resident of the Old City said.
“It’s sad. The Sepulchre is empty. It’s the symbol of the most important event in Christian history,” he said, adding that he hoped the closure would only be temporary, reports RTE.
Pierbattista Pizzaballa said the church remained closed during Easter observances.
“The doors are still closed,” Cardinal Pizzaballa said in his Easter Vigil homily at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, reports RTE.
He had previously been prevented from holding mass there, an incident that drew international criticism.
“The silence is almost absolute, broken perhaps by the distant sound of what war continues to sow in this holy and torn land,” he said, reports RTE.
In Lebanon, Christian communities in the south are caught in ongoing clashes between Israeli forces and Hezbollah.
In the village of Debel, near the Israeli border, residents prepared to mark Easter despite continued bombardment and isolation, reports RTE.
“The situation is tragic,” local figure Joseph Attieh said by phone.
“People are terrified, and the sound of shelling and gunfire has not stopped for a moment since last night. We haven’t been able to sleep.
“We are putting our trust in God,” Mr Attieh said, since “this is the only glimmer of hope we will not give up on”, reports RTE.
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