On Saturday, April 11 — the 63rd anniversary of Pacem in Terris, Pope John XXIII’s encyclical on peace, a foundational document for Pax Christi — Pope Leo XIV held a prayer vigil at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. The pope had called for this time of prayer in response to what he called the “truly unacceptable” threats made by President Trump to destroy Iran and by the increased use of religious language by US officials to defend and even extol warmaking. Use this link to read Pope Leo’s beautiful reflection on prayer and our Christian call to be peacemakers. (Use this link to read the pope’s reflection on the Vatican’s website.)
We at Pax Christi are deeply moved by Pope Leo’s firm words in support of peace and in rejection of war and preparations for war. His message expresses the very mission of Pax Christi — the peace of Christ, the peace that Christ has assured us, which we are called to share and to embody.
In connection with the prayer vigil held in Rome, many church leaders held services in their own dioceses on the same day — in Washington, DC, Cardinal Robert McElroy celebrated a special Mass for peace at St. Matthew’s Cathedral, concelebrated by Cardinal Emeritus Wilton Gregory and the archdiocese’s auxiliary bishops. (Photo at right.) Cardinal McElroy’s homily was a clear message that the war against Iran is unjust and immoral; his words were received with strong applause from the standing-room only congregation.
Use this link to read Cardinal McElroy’s excellent homily.
Members of Pax Christi Illinois joined members of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Parish in Naperville in answer to Pope Leo’s call for prayers for peace on April 11. The service was held at the parish peace pole and was led by Associate Pastor Fr. John Regan, who reminded those in attendance, “As we stand near this peace pole today, let us remember that peace is not only something we ask for. It is also something we practice.” (Photo shared by Ambassador of Peace Tom Cordaro.)
Take action to oppose warmaking
When Congress returns from recess this week, the Senate will vote on two measures prohibiting the $446.8M sale and transfer of 12,000 heavy bombs and D9 Caterpillar bulldozers to Israel [S.J.Res.138; S.J.Res.32]. As the death toll and displacement figures rise in the horrific war in the Middle East, it is imperative that Congress reasserts its oversight of major weapons transfers.
Please use the box below to contact your senators and urge them to cosponsor and vote “yes” on these critical resolutions. Heavy bombs cause devastating civilian casualties and the use of bulldozers to clear paths and destroy homes displaces thousands across the Middle East. We must stop the continued sale and transfer of millions of dollars’ worth of US weapons and machines used for offensive purposes by the Israeli government.
join us for A No Nukes Advocacy Hour, Tuesday, April 21
The world is held captive by the threat of nuclear annihilation — those of us in the United States live with the fear that our president might take advantage of his access to the nuclear codes to inflict untold pain and suffering on those he considers enemies. This madness must end.
Join Pax Christi USA and Back from the Brink on Tuesday, April 21, 12 PM Eastern/11 AM Central/10 AM Mountain/9 AM Pacific for a No Nukes Advocacy Hour.
During this online event, organized especially for Pax Christi USA, you’ll hear about actions that we can take to promote nuclear disarmament. You’ll receive information and guidance about how to contact Congress to urge support of current legislation to end the production and threat of nuclear weapons.
The event will be facilitated by Back from the Brink’s Danny Hall, along with Pax Christi USA Ambassador of Peace Nick Mele, with prayers led by Pax Christi USA staff.
Use this link to register! We look forward to seeing you on Zoom on April 21!
Young adults: Consider registering as a conscientious objector
Building on the long tradition of Catholic war resisters including the Berrigan brothers, Ben Salmon, Franz Jägerstätter, and Dorothy Day, all of whom upheld the Gospel of nonviolence in turbulent times, we invite young Catholics to join the Ben Salmon No Just War Conscientious Objection Registry to affirm their faith-led belief in Gospel nonviolence. The original testimonies will be held by the signers, with copies sent to the Pax Christi USA office in Washington, DC which will act as the central archive. In the event of a military draft or call to war, these documents will serve as formal statements of conscientious objection.
Use this link to read more.
ALSO: Through the generosity of a committed donor, Pax Christi USA is launching an annual scholarship program to support young Catholics who witness to Gospel nonviolence through their education. The Ben Salmon Registry Scholarship will provide $6,000 annually (2026-2028) for students who are registered in our Conscientious Objector registry and pursuing higher education. Application deadline is September 15.
Watch Catholic leaders interviewed about Pope Leo’s stance on war:
- Use this link to watch an interview with Pax Christi USA 2021 Teacher of Peace Fr. Bryan Massingale on MS Now regarding Pope Leo’s statements about the war against Iran
- Use this link to watch a 13-minute interview with Cardinals Joe Tobin, Robert McElroy, and Blase Cupich on “60 Minutes,” speaking on the Church’s call to preach peace and to uphold human dignity. The video is available to watch in the box on the side of the printed story. (“Influential US cardinals caution against Iran war, Trump immigration policies”)
Reflection of Pope Leo XIV at the April 11 prayer vigil for peace
Phrases bolded by Pax Christi USA
Dear brothers and sisters,
Your prayer is an expression of that faith which, according to the words of Jesus, moves mountains (cf. Mt 17:20). Thank you for accepting this invitation to gather here at the tomb of Saint Peter and in so many other places around the world to pray for peace. War divides; hope unites. Arrogance tramples upon others; love lifts up. Idolatry blinds us; the living God enlightens. My dearest friends, all it takes is a little faith, a mere “crumb” of faith, in order to face this dramatic hour in history together — as humanity and alongside humanity. Prayer is not a refuge in which to hide from our responsibilities, nor an anesthetic to numb the pain provoked by so much injustice. Rather, it is the most selfless, universal and transformative response to death: we are a people who are already risen! Within each of us, within every human being, the interior Teacher teaches peace, urges us toward encounter and inspires us to make supplication. Let us rise from the rubble! Nothing can confine us to a predetermined fate, not even in this world where there never seem to be enough graves, for people continue to crucify one another and eliminate life, with no regard to justice and mercy.
In the context of the 2003 Iraq war crisis, Saint John Paul II, a tireless advocate for peace, said with deep emotion: “I belong to that generation that lived through World War II and, thanks be to God, survived it. I have the duty to say to all young people, to those who are younger than I, who have not had this experience: ‘No more war’ as Paul VI said during his first visit to the United Nations. We must do everything possible. We know well that peace is not possible at any price. But we all know how great is this responsibility” (Angelus, 16 March 2003). I make his appeal my own this evening, relevant as it is today.
Prayer teaches us how to act. In prayer, our limited human possibilities are joined to the infinite possibilities of God. Thoughts, words and deeds then break the demonic cycle of evil and are placed at the service of the Kingdom of God. A Kingdom in which there is no sword, no drone, no vengeance, no trivialization of evil, no unjust profit, but only dignity, understanding and forgiveness. It is here that we find a bulwark against that delusion of omnipotence that surrounds us and is becoming increasingly unpredictable and aggressive. The balance within the human family has been severely destabilized. Even the holy Name of God, the God of life, is being dragged into discourses of death. A world of brothers and sisters with one heavenly Father vanishes, as in a nightmare, giving way to a reality populated by enemies. We are met by threats, rather than the invitation to listen and to come together. Brothers and sisters, those who pray are aware of their own limitations; they do not kill or threaten with death. Instead, death enslaves those who have turned their backs on the living God, turning themselves and their own power into a mute, blind and deaf idol (cf. Ps 115:4–8), to which they sacrifice every value, demanding that the whole world bend its knee.
Enough of the idolatry of self and money! Enough of the display of power! Enough of war! True strength is shown in serving life. With evangelical simplicity, Saint John XXIII once wrote: “The benefits of peace will be felt everywhere, by individuals, by families, by nations, by the whole human race.” And echoing the incisive words of Pius XII, he added: “Nothing is lost by peace; everything may be lost by war” (Encyclical Letter Pacem in Terris, 116).
Let us, therefore, unite the moral and spiritual strength of the millions and billions of men and women, young and old, who today choose to believe in peace, caring for the wounds and repairing the damage left behind by the madness of war. I receive countless letters from children in areas of conflict. In reading them, one perceives, through the lens of innocence, all the horror and inhumanity of actions that some adults boast of with pride. Let us listen to the voices of children!
Dear brothers and sisters, there are certainly binding responsibilities that fall to the leaders of nations. To them we cry out: Stop! It is time for peace! Sit at the table of dialogue and mediation, not at the table where rearmament is planned and deadly actions are decided! Yet there is a no less significant responsibility that falls to all of us — men and women from all over the world. We are an immense multitude that rejects war not only in word, but also in deed. Prayer calls us to leave behind whatever violence remains in our hearts and minds. Let us turn to a Kingdom of peace that is built up day by day — in our homes, schools, neighborhoods, and civil and religious communities. A Kingdom that counters polemics and resignation through friendship and a culture of encounter. Let us believe once again in love, moderation and good politics. We must form ourselves and get personally involved, each following our own calling. Everyone has a place in the mosaic of peace!
The Rosary, like other ancient forms of prayer, has united us this evening in its steady rhythm built on repetition. Peace gains ground in the same way: word by word, deed by deed, just as a rock is hollowed out drop by drop, or fabric woven stitch by stitch. These are the slow rhythms of life, a sign of God’s patience. We must not allow ourselves to be overwhelmed by the pace of a world that does not know what it is chasing. Rather, we must return to serving the rhythm of life, the harmony of creation and healing its wounds. As Pope Francis taught us, “There is also a need for peacemakers, men and women prepared to work boldly and creatively to initiate processes of healing and renewed encounter” (Encyclical Letter Fratelli Tutti, 225). There is, indeed, “an ‘architecture’ of peace, to which different institutions of society contribute, each according to its own area of expertise, but there is also an ‘art’ of peace that involves us” (ibid., 231).
Dear brothers and sisters, let us return home having made a commitment to pray without ceasing and without growing weary, a commitment to a profound conversion of heart. The Church is a great people at the service of reconciliation and peace. She advances without hesitation, even when rejecting the logic of war may lead to misunderstanding and scorn. She proclaims the Gospel of peace and instills obedience to God rather than any human authority, especially when the inherent dignity of other human beings is threatened by continuous violations of international law. “Throughout the world, it is to be hoped that every community become a ‘house of peace,’ where one learns how to defuse hostility through dialogue, where justice is practiced and forgiveness is cherished. Now more than ever, we must show that peace is not a utopia” (Message for the LIX World Day of Peace, 1 January 2026).
Brothers and sisters of every language, people and nation: we are one family that weeps, hopes and rises again. “No more war, a journey with no return; no more war, a vicious cycle of grief and violence;” (Saint John Paul II, Prayer for Peace, 2 February 1991).
Dear friends, peace be with you all! It is the peace of the Risen Christ, the fruit of his sacrifice of love on the cross. For this reason, we raise our prayer to him:
Lord Jesus,
you conquered death without weapons or violence:
you shattered its power with the strength of peace.
Grant us your peace,
as you did to the women filled with doubt on Easter morning,
as you did to the disciples who were hiding in fear.
Send forth your Spirit,
the breath that gives life and reconciles,
that turns adversaries and enemies into brothers and sisters.
Inspire in us to trust in Mary, your mother,
who stood at the foot of your cross with a broken heart,
firm in the faith that you would rise again.
May the madness of war cease
and the Earth be cared for and cultivated by those who still
know how to bring forth, protect and love life.
Hear us, Lord of life!