The Pope Leo XIV has launched this Easter Sunday a message of hope in the face of violence and inequalities, firmly denouncing the effects of war and what he has defined as the “idolatry of profit” that exploits the planet's resources.
A call to hope in a wounded world
During the mass celebrated in a crowded St. Peter's Square, the pontiff —of American-Peruvian origin— has warned that “death always lurks”, manifesting itself in phenomena such as political selfishness, the oppression of the most vulnerable, or the lack of attention to those who need it most.
“We see her in violence, in the wounds of the world, in the cry of pain that rises everywhere,” he/she has pointed out, alluding to the abuses that especially affect the weakest.
Criticism of the war and the economic model
In his homily, Leo XIV has placed the focus on two great contemporary threats: war and an economic model centered exclusively on profit.
The Pope has denounced that the violence of armed conflicts “kills and destroys”, while the logic of unlimited profit leads to an irresponsible exploitation of natural resources, aggravating inequalities.
Easter as a symbol of light
In the face of this scenario, the pontiff has asserted the meaning of Easter as an “unstoppable force” capable of opening a path even in the darkest contexts.
“Today we need this song of hope,” he affirmed, encouraging the faithful to convey the message of the resurrection “through the streets of the world”.
Nevertheless, has recognized that maintaining that hope is not always simple, especially when factors such as loneliness or personal errors weigh.
A multitudinous celebration in the Vatican
Thousands of faithful have attended the ceremony in St. Peter's Square, decorated with tens of thousands of flowers provided by Dutch florists and by the Vatican's gardening team.
The mass has culminated with the traditional blessing Urbi et Orbi, thus closing Leo XIV's first Holy Week as pope, in which he has actively participated in all liturgical acts since Palm Sunday.
A pontificate marked by the global context
The pope's message arrives at a moment of high international tension, with open conflicts and growing social and economic challenges, which reinforces the warning tone and call for global responsibility of his speech.