Pope Leo Marks First Easter As Pontiff With Call For Hope Amid Iran War

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Leo On Sunday, he celebrated his first Easter service as priest with a call to hope against “the violence of war that kills and destroys,” adding that “we need this song of hope today” as conflicts spread around the world.

with US-Israel war In its second month, Iran and Russia’s ongoing campaign in UkraineLeo has repeatedly called for a cessation of hostilities. In his Easter sermon, the Pope highlighted those who wage war, exploit the weak and prioritize profit.

Leo, the first U.S.-born pope, addressed the faithful from an outdoor altar surrounded by white roses in St. Peter’s Square, while the stairs leading down to the plaza where the faithful gathered were filled with perennial spring flowers, symbolically echoing the pope’s message of hope.

The pope implored the faithful to maintain hope in the face of “death lurking in injustices, in partisan selfishness, in the oppression of the poor, in the lack of due attention to the most vulnerable.”

“We see it in the violence, in the wounds of the world, in the cries of pain that rise from every corner because of the abuses that oppress the weakest among us, in the idolatry of profit that plunders the world’s resources, in the violence of war that kills and destroys,” he said.

Quoted from his predecessor Pope Francis He warned against falling into complacency in the face of “continuing injustice, evil, indifference and cruelty” because “it is also true that in the midst of darkness something new always comes to life and sooner or later bears fruit.”

He will then deliver the traditional message “Urbi et Orbi”, which means “to the city and the world” in Latin.

Traditional ceremonies in the square Church of the Holy SepulcherThe site, revered by Christians as the traditional site of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, has been scaled back under an agreement with Israeli police. Authorities have limited the size of public gatherings due to ongoing missile attacks.

The restrictions have also marred the week-long Jewish holiday of Passover, as well as the holiday of Ramadan, the last Muslim holy month, and Eid al-Fitr. On Sunday, Jewish priests’ blessings at the Western Wall, normally attended by tens of thousands of people, were limited to just 50 people.

The restrictions strained relations between Israeli officials and Christian leaders. Police last week prevented two prominent religious leaders of the church, including Latin Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa, from celebrating Palm Sunday at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.

pope on tuesday expressed his hope that the war could be ended before Easter.

Barry reported from Milan. Josef Federman in Jerusalem contributed.