Pope Leo XIV used the occasion of Pentecost on Sunday to deliver a heartfelt appeal for global peace, urging worshippers to pray that humanity be delivered from what he called “the evil of war.” Speaking before more than 5,000 attendees in St. Peter’s Basilica, the pontiff framed the message as a call to spiritual rather than material strength.
“Let's pray that it may free humanity from misery, which is redeemed not by incalculable wealth, but by an inexhaustible gift,” the Pope said during the mass, which commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles fifty days after Easter.
A Contrast Between Power and Love
In his homily, Pope Leo drew a sharp distinction between worldly power and divine grace. “Dearest friends, with ardent hearts, let's pray today that the Spirit of the Risen One may save us from the evil of war, which is overcome not by a superpower but by the Omnipotence of love,” he declared. The message echoed recent Vatican statements rejecting the notion that military force can be sanctified.
The Pope warned that certain changes “do not bring new life to the world, but make it grow old through error and violence.” By contrast, he said, “The Holy Spirit enlightens minds and instils new vitality in our hearts.”
His remarks come amid heightened global tensions, particularly following the Trump administration’s attempt in April to frame its military operation in Iran as a “just war” with divine backing. Pope Leo XIV categorically rejected that interpretation, insisting that Jesus “does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war.”
The Vatican confirmed that the Pope’s homily centred on the Risen Christ’s appearance to the disciples in the Upper Room, where Jesus showed them “his hands and his side” before breathing the Holy Spirit upon them. “The Lord reveals his glorious body, specifically his wounds, the marks of the Crucifixion,” Pope Leo said. “These signs of the Passion, more eloquent than words, are now transfigured; he who was dead lives forever.”
The same Upper Room, once marked by fear and betrayal, became through Christ’s gift of the Spirit “for the entire Church, the womb of the Resurrection,” the pontiff added.
Pentecost is widely observed across Europe as both a major Christian festival and a public holiday. In Germany, for instance, the holiday coincides with a heatwave expected to bring near-30°C temperatures, while in Budapest, the city marks 22 years in the EU amid government change and renewed European optimism.
The Pope’s peace plea also aligns with his broader diplomatic efforts. Earlier this year, during a visit to Pompeii and Naples to mark his first anniversary, he issued a similar call for reconciliation. The Vatican continues to position itself as a moral voice in international affairs, often at odds with the rhetoric of powerful states.
