His Holiness Pope Leo XIV presides over a Prayer Vigil for Peace at St. Peter’s Basilica.
The vigil includes meditations from early Church Fathers, including Augustine of Hippo, while representatives from different continents light candles using the flame from the Lamp of Peace of Assisi.
According to Vatican News, the gathering was held “in light of the ongoing violence in the Middle East.” Despite a two-week ceasefire involving Iran, Israel, and the United States, the Pope underscored the need for sustained prayer, as conflicts persist in Lebanon, Sudan, Ukraine, Yemen, and other parts of the world.
In his message following the prayer vigil, Pope Leo XIV appealed for peace, urging the faithful to reject violence, arrogance, and the pursuit of power in favor of dialogue, justice, and love.
He emphasized that peace must be actively built within communities and hearts, reminding all that it is not an unattainable ideal but a real and urgent calling for the world today.
“Throughout the world, it is hoped that every community becomes a house of peace, where one learns how to diffuse hostility through dialogue, where justice is practiced, and forgiveness is cherished. Now, more than ever, we must show that peace is not a utopia.”
Watch and join the prayer vigil here.