‘Peace be with you all. Towards an unarmed and disarming peace’ is the theme of Pope Leo’s first message for World Peace Day, which will be celebrated on 1 January 2026.
In his message, the Holy Father reminds us that the peace of the risen Christ is an unarmed and disarming peace, humble and persevering. Pope Leo invites every believer to live this peace as a concrete experience, not as a distant ideal, following the example of St Francis of Assisi who freed himself from every desire to dominate others, made himself one of the least and sought to live in harmony with all. The Pontiff emphasises the need for integral disarmament that begins with the renewal of the heart, because true peace can only be built on mutual trust.
As a missionary community, we are called to witness to this disarming peace with our lives, making every environment a home where we learn to defuse hostility through dialogue. In this Jubilee Year of Hope, which is coming to an end, Pope Leo’s message invites us to rediscover ourselves as pilgrims towards that peace which, before being a goal, is a presence that dwells within us and transforms us. Let us pray that every Christian community may become a prophetic sign of reconciliation and fraternity in a world marked by too many conflicts.
For further information, read the full message.
