"I invite everyone to join me in a prayer vigil for peace that we will celebrate here in Saint Peter’s Basilica next Saturday, April 11," Pope Leo said, near the end of a reflection on Christ's peace offered at Easter, before he gave the traditional urbi et orbi blessing (to the city and the world.)
April 11, this coming Saturday, will be the vigil of Divine Mercy Sunday.
"We are growing accustomed to violence," Pope Leo warned, "resigning ourselves to it, and becoming indifferent."
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. There is an ever-increasing “globalization of indifference,” to borrow an expression dear to Pope Francis, who one year ago from this loggia addressed his final words to the world, reminding us: “What a great thirst for death, for killing, we witness each day in the many conflicts raging in different parts of the world!” (Urbi et Orbi Message, 20 April 2025).
