Pope Leo opens 2026 with plea for peace in countries bloodied by war, families wounded by violence

Pope Leo XIV addresses the crowd from the window of the apostolic palace overlooking St.Peter's Square during his Sunday Angelus prayer at the Vatican, January 1, 2026. ALBERTO PIZZOLI / AFP

Pope Leo XIV opened 2026 on Thursday, January 1, with a plea for peace, singling out in particular countries "bloodied by conflict" and families wounded by violence.

Leo celebrated a New Year's Day Mass in St. Peter's Basilica and then delivered a special noontime prayer from his studio overlooking the piazza, which was full of pilgrims and tourists on the bright, chilly day.

Leo noted that January 1 marks the church's World Day of Peace and used the occasion to issue a prayer. "Let us all pray together for peace: first, among nations bloodied by conflict and suffering, but also within our homes, in families wounded by violence or pain," he said.

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