‘Choose peace,’ Pope Leo implores world leaders in first Easter address

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🗞️ Driving the news: Pope Leo XIV used his first Easter “Urbi et Orbi” address to urge world leaders to abandon violence and pursue peace through dialogue

🔭 The context: Speaking from St. Peter's Basilica, the first American pope called on those “who have weapons” to lay them down amid escalating conflicts in regions including Ukraine, Myanmar, Sudan and the Middle East
• His message comes as tensions intensify in the war involving Iran and regional actors

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Armed conflicts often have severe environmental consequences, from damage to ecosystems and infrastructure to oil spills, pollution and increased greenhouse gas emissions
• Escalation in regions such as the Middle East also threatens critical energy routes and ecosystems, including the vulnerable marine environment around the Strait of Hormuz

⏭️ What’s next: While the pope did not name specific leaders, his appeal is likely to resonate in ongoing diplomatic debates around the Middle East conflict and other global crises
• The Vatican has committed to continue advocating for dialogue and humanitarian protections in war zones

💬 One quote: “Let those who have the power to unleash wars choose peace! Not a peace imposed by force, but through dialogue”

📈 One stat: The pope highlighted the deaths of thousands of people in ongoing conflicts worldwide as a reason to reject indifference

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