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Pope Leo praises ceasefire as ‘genuine hope,’ presses for dialogue, peace

Pope Leo XIV welcomed the newly announced ceasefire in the Middle East as “a sign of genuine hope” after what he described as “hours of extreme tension,” while urging a return to negotiations and calling the faithful to prayer.

• At Easter Mass, Pope Leo proclaims Resurrection conquers ‘the power of death’

  

  By COURTNEY MARES, OSV News
  Published April 5, 2026

  Pope Leo XIV offered Easter Mass in St. Peter’s Square Sunday proclaiming that with Christ’s resurrection “death has been conquered forever” and “no longer has power over us.”

• On first Palm Sunday, Pope Leo says Jesus cries out from the cross against war

  

  By COURTNEY MARES, OSV News
  Published March 29, 2026

  In his first Palm Sunday homily, Pope Leo XIV proclaimed that Jesus, the King of Peace, embraces all suffering in human history and cries out from the cross against war.

• Via Crucis: The final Holy Week journey of Pope Francis

  

  By JUNNO AROCHO ESTEVES, OSV News
  Published March 26, 2026

  During Holy Week 2025, Pope Francis was called to share in the mystery of Christ’s passion. No one knows whether he had some premonition that it would be his final week, but one thing was certain: He prepared himself for it.