Pope calls on Christian faithful to pray together for peace

Pope Leo XIV has called on Christian faithful across the world to collectively pray for peace in his first Angelus address for 2026.

According to him, God is inviting the faithful “to renew our times by finally ushering in an era of peace and friendship among peoples.”

The Pope called on the faithful to pray together for peace, “first among nations bloodied by conflict and suffering, but also within our homes, in families wounded by violence and pain.

“The Lord invites us to renew our times by finally ushering in an era of peace and friendship among all peoples.”

Pope Leo also urged Catholics faithful to convert hearts to God in the spirit of the Jubilee Year, saying it has taught Catholics faithful how to cultivate hope for a new world.

“Converting our hearts to God, in order to transform wrongs into forgiveness, pain into consolation, and resolutions of virtue into good works.”

Read also: 2026: Clerics urge Nigerians to be more committed to God, express genuine love

In celebrating his first public Mass of 2026 on the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, Pope Leo told believers that Mary has revealed the ‘unarmed and disarming’ face of God.

“May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord let his face shine on you and be gracious to you? May the Lord uncover his face to you and bring you peace.”

The Pope opened the homily at his first Mass of 2026 by reflecting from the Book of Numbers, taken from the day’s first reading, and urged the faithful to view 2026 as an open journey to be discovered,

According to him, the blessing was addressed to the people of Israel, who had just been liberated from slavery in Egypt, and had been offered a rebirth, an open road toward the future.

In this way, the Pope noted, the day’s liturgy reminds Catholic faithful that “every day can be the beginning of a new life, thanks to God’s generous love, his mercy and the response of our freedom.”

Seyi John Salau is a BusinessDay Correspondent with interest in development journalism, which tells stories that connect the people, brands, and the government. SeyiJohn is also a media professional with BSc, Mass Communition (ACU); Masters of School Media (MSM, Ibadan) & MSc, Mass Communication (Caleb).

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