Overview
- Pope Leo XIV delivered his first Easter Urbi et Orbi on Sunday, urging those with weapons to lay them down and choosing not to name specific wars.
- He invited Catholics to a prayer vigil for peace at St. Peter's Basilica on Saturday, April 11.
- The appeal came the same day President Trump posted a profanity‑laced threat toward Iran on Truth Social, warning he would target power plants and bridges if the Strait of Hormuz stayed closed.
- Roughly 50,000 people attended in St. Peter’s Square, where Leo revived multilingual blessings and Holy Week practices that signal a return to long‑standing papal rituals.
- Easter observances in Jerusalem were scaled back under Israeli security limits because of ongoing attacks, reducing crowds at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and heightening tension with local church leaders.