Pope Leo Calls Faithful to Pray for Peace on April 11
- André Escaleira, Jr.
- 2 hours ago
- 4 min read
The Holy Father’s global challenge comes amid growing tensions in the Middle East and beyond.
In the face of increasing tensions worldwide, Pope Leo XIV has called the faithful to join him in a prayer vigil for peace on Saturday, April 11.
An Easter Challenge
In his first Easter Urbi et Orbi (To the City [of Rome] and to the World, a special blessing and address delivered on major occasions) message on Easter Sunday, the pontiff linked Jesus’ Resurrection to peace. He noted that Jesus’ conquest of death, darkness and hatred came at the cost of his life. Still, Jesus gave his life freely out of love — the same love the faithful are called to show to neighbor in a “new humanity” in the Risen Christ.
An integral part of this renewed brotherhood is a concerted effort to avoid becoming desensitized to violence in all its forms.
“We are growing accustomed to violence, resigning ourselves to it, and becoming indifferent,” he explained. “Indifferent to the deaths of thousands of people. Indifferent to the repercussions of hatred and division that conflicts sow. Indifferent to the economic and social consequences they produce, which we all feel.
“We cannot continue to be indifferent! And we cannot resign ourselves to evil!” he continued.
As an Easter people, Pope Leo emphasized, the hope of the Risen Christ must permeate our world and our hearts, inspiring meaningful transformation.
“The peace that Jesus gives us is not merely the silence of weapons but the peace that touches and transforms the heart of each one of us!” he said. “Let us allow ourselves to be transformed by the peace of Christ! Let us make heard the cry for peace that springs from our hearts!”
Then, more emphatically, he pleaded: “Let those who have weapons lay them down! Let those who have the power to unleash wars choose peace! Not a peace imposed by force, but through dialogue! Not with the desire to dominate others, but to encounter them!”
America Joins In Prayer
Mere days later, following threats from President Donald Trump that “a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again,” Archbishop Paul Coakley, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) echoed Pope Leo’s calls for peace, exhorting the president to strongly reconsider.
“The threat of destroying a whole civilization and the intentional targeting of civilian infrastructure cannot be morally justified,” Archbishop Coakley said in an April 7 statement. “I call on President Trump to step back from the precipice of war and negotiate a just settlement for the sake of peace and before more lives are lost.”
Noting Jesus’ first words following the Resurrection — “Peace be with you” — Archbishop Coakley invited American faithful to join the pope in Easter prayer for peace on April 11.
“I make a special plea to my brother bishops, the priests, the laity, and all people yearning for true peace to join the Holy Father’s Vigil for Peace, whether virtually, or in parishes, chapels, or before the Lord present in the quiet of their hearts to join with our Holy Father as we pray for peace in our world,” he said.
Ceasefire
Not one day later, a temporary ceasefire was announced — news that Pope Leo said he welcomed “with satisfaction and as a sign of deep hope” during his April 8 General Audience.
Even still, he redoubled his call to pray with him for peace “in the hope that a willingness to engage in dialogue may become the means to resolve other situations of conflict throughout the world.”
Denver Catholics Respond
Catholics across the archdiocese can join in prayer for peace, uniting themselves to the Holy Father in prayer to the Risen Christ and through Our Lady, Queen of Peace, on April 11 at a parish near them.
Since this prayer vigil falls on a Saturday, the evening on which many parishes offer anticipatory Masses, one might consider attending Mass that day and interceding for peace.
If unable to attend Mass that day, here are a few other ideas for peace-filled prayer on April 11:
Pray a Rosary, asking Our Lady, Queen of Peace, to intercede for our world.
Pray a Divine Mercy Chaplet, asking that God’s mercy break into the world, heal division and foster reconciliation.
Visit an adoration chapel near you and spend some time in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.
Pray the Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi.
No matter how the faithful choose to pray with Pope Leo for peace, the important thing is surrendering ourselves, our communities and our world to the Lord of Lords, asking him to accomplish his will in and through us and to let his peace reign on Earth.
