The “non-violent” power of Easter in Pope Leo’s appeals for peace

As violence and war plague countries across the world, and news headlines report increasing tensions and rising death tolls every day, Pope Leo XIV's incessant appeals for peace rang out during the liturgies and celebrations that marked Holy Week and the Easter Triduum, as he emphasized Christ’s Resurrection and triumph over death.

“Brothers and sisters, this is our God: Jesus, King of peace. A God who rejects war, whom no one can use to justify war,” he said in his homily on Palm Sunday, which marked the beginning of the most important week of the year for Catholics.    

From highlighting how God does not listen to the prayer of those who wage war and whose “hands are full of blood" on Palm Sunday; to carrying the weight of people’s suffering by carrying the cross during the Via Crucis at the Colosseum on Good Friday; to calling those who have weapons to lay them down during the Urbi et Orbi message; Pope Leo’s words were invariably addressed to those who have the power to put an end to conflicts, and his thoughts were with those who are suffering under the effects and threat of violence. 

Holy Week opened with Pope Leo XIV presiding over the Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square on March 29. Before him were 40,000 faithful and 120,000 olive branches, raised to symbolize that gentle peace of which Jesus, the King of peace, the Pope recalled, "offers himself to embrace humanity, even as others raise swords and clubs.

It is to them that the Pope addressed the same words spoken by Christ when one of his disciples, according to the Gospel, drew a weapon to defend him: “Put your sword back into its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.”

Jesus “did not arm himself, or defend himself, or fight any war,” the Pope said. "Rather than saving Himself, He allowed Himself to be nailed to the cross, embracing every cross borne in every time and place throughout human history.”