Pope Leo XIV called for betting on forgiveness and dialogue as ways to build peace

Published at: 01/01/2026 11:21 AM

Pope Leo XIV called this Thursday, January 1, to bet on forgiveness and dialogue as ways to build peace, and warned that the world is not transformed through violence or confrontation.

The message was delivered during the first mass of the year, celebrated in St. Peter's Basilica, which coincided with the 59th World Day of Peace, TELESUR reported on its website.

In his homily, the pontiff maintained that salvation does not come through weapons or submission, but through a constant effort to understand, reconcile and welcome everyone without fear or calculation.

He emphasized that one of the essential traits of God is the gratitude of his love, manifested in the image of a defenseless child in a manger.

Leo XIV, who is experiencing his first New Year as pope after being elected in May, stressed that the beginning of 2026 represents an opportunity to begin a renewed life, marked by the capacity to forgive.

The Pope encouraged believers to deepen their faith and to embrace an idea of “disarmed and disarming” peace, especially for the most vulnerable.

Leo XIV also expressed concern about growing international instability and the recurrent use of the argument of external threat to justify military strengthening.

Faced with this scenario, he insisted on the need to recover a language and a vision that bring peace closer to daily life and turn it into a real commitment, both for the coming months and for the entire Christian life.

Mazo News Team