Leo XIV, the world is not saved by sharpening swords. Mattarella, the Pope's voice awakens consciences

"The world is not saved by sharpening swords, judging, oppressing, or eliminating brothers". This was said by Pope Leo in a passage of his homily at the first Mass of the new year, delivered in the Vatican Basilica, where he presided over the celebration of the Mass on the Solemnity of Mary Most Holy Mother of God and the 59th World Day of Peace on the theme 'Peace be with you all. Towards a disarmed and disarming peace'. The Pontiff indicated the way forward to save the world: 'Rather, striving tirelessly to understand, forgive, liberate and welcome all, without calculation and without fear'.

At the first Mass of 2026, the Pope renewed his call for a commitment to "disarmed" and "disarming" peace. "On this solemn feast, at the beginning of the new year, as we approach the conclusion of the Jubilee of Hope, let us approach the Crib, in faith, as the place of "disarmed and disarming" peace par excellence, the place of blessing, in which to remember the wonders that the Lord has wrought in the history of salvation and in our existence, and then to depart, like the humble witnesses of the grotto, "glorifying and praising God" for all that we have seen and heard. Let this be our commitment," said Leo, "our purpose for the months to come, and always for our Christian life".

In his homily, the Pope explained that "in Mary's Divine Maternity we see the encounter of two immense 'disarmed' realities: that of God who renounces every privilege of his divinity in order to be born according to the flesh, and that of the person who with trust totally embraces his will, paying him the homage, in a perfect act of love, of his greatest power: freedom". In his homily, Pope Prevost recalled one of the "fundamental traits of God's face: that of the total gratuitousness of his love, whereby he presents himself to us "disarmed and disarming", naked, defenceless as a newborn in the cradle. And this is to teach us that the world is not saved by sharpening swords, judging, oppressing, or eliminating our brothers and sisters'.

The Pope thanked the initiatives put in place for peace: "I express my appreciation for the countless initiatives promoted on this occasion throughout the world. In particular, I recall the national march that took place last night in Catania and I greet the participants in the one organised today by the community of St. Egidio". The Pontiff recalled that the beginning of this year marks the eighth centenary of the death of St Francis: "I would like to send to each person his blessing taken from Holy Scripture: 'May the Lord bless you and keep you. May he show his face to you and have mercy on you. May he turn his face towards thee and give thee peace'. May the Holy Mother of God guide us on the path of the New Year. All the best to everyone'. And the crowd in St. Peter's Square reciprocated the good wishes with a long 'W the Pope'.

"Wishes and peace for all". A believer following Pope Leo's first mass of the year in St. Peter's Square through the big screens holds a sign on which he has marked his wishes for 2026: "Peace for all". Which are everyone's wishes for a world of peace and not of conflict.