Pope Leo celebrated his first Easter Mass as pontiff on Sunday, urging the faithful to embrace hope in the face of ongoing wars and injustices. Addressing the crowd from an open-air altar in St Peter’s Square, decorated with white roses and spring perennials, he said: “We need this song of hope today” as conflicts spread worldwide.
The pope, the first US-born leader of the Catholic Church, singled out those who wage war, abuse the weak and prioritise profits. He implored the faithful not to lose hope amid death that lurks “in injustices, in partisan selfishness, in the oppression of the poor, in the lack of attention given to the most vulnerable”. He quoted his predecessor Pope Francis, warning against falling into indifference in the face of “persistent injustice, evil, indifference and cruelty”.
Pope Leo’s Easter message comes as the US-Israeli war on Iran enters its second month and Russia’s campaign in Ukraine continues. He has repeatedly called for a halt in hostilities. Later on Sunday, he is due to deliver the traditional “Urbi et Orbi” blessing.
Traditional ceremonies at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem were scaled back under an agreement with Israeli police, who have limited public gatherings due to ongoing missile attacks. The restrictions have also affected Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr and the Jewish festival of Passover, with the priestly blessing at the Western Wall limited to just 50 people.
The curbs have strained relations between Israeli authorities and Christian leaders. Last week, police prevented two top religious figures, including Latin Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa, from celebrating Palm Sunday at the church.
