Overview
- At New Year’s Mass and his first Angelus of 2026, Pope Leo urged people to disarm their hearts and refrain from every form of violence, addressing about 40,000 in St. Peter’s Square.
- Marking the World Day of Peace, he called peace an unarmed, disarming gift from God that requires personal conversion and daily choices.
- During New Year’s Eve Vespers, he condemned “armed strategies” masked by ideology and false religious motives, contrasting them with God’s merciful plan.
- He thanked Rome and the volunteers who assisted pilgrims and asked the city to welcome foreigners and care for children, the elderly, and struggling families.
- The Vatican reported roughly 3.2 million participants in 2025 liturgies and Jubilee events, and the pope will follow the Epiphany rites with a two‑day meeting of the College of Cardinals.