Pope Leo begins the year 2026 with prayer for the countries

Pope Leo XIV opened the year 2026 on Thursday with a call for peace, highlighting in particular countries “bloodied by conflict” and families wounded by violence.

Leo celebrated a New Year’s Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica and then gave a special prayer at noon from his study overlooking the square, which was packed with pilgrims and tourists on a bright, cold day.

Leo pointed out that January 1 is the church’s World Peace Day and took advantage of the occasion to offer 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.

in leo first Christmas homily last weekcondemned the “debris and open wounds” left by the wars and highlighted the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza. He also urged Russia and Ukraine —in a Christmas blessing—to find the “courage” to engage in direct talks to end their war.

After a busy Christmas season, Leo will have a few days off before celebrating the church’s Epiphany holiday on January 6. That day also officially closes the Holy Year 2025, the celebration that takes place every quarter of a century and that attracts millions of pilgrims to Rome.

Immediately afterward, he will preside over a two-day meeting of the entire College of Cardinals, the princes of the Church who elected him Pope, as well as those who are over 80 years old and did not participate in the conclave but remain part of the college. Leo is resurrecting a tradition largely eschewed by Pope Francis of summoning cardinals from time to time to ask their advice on how to govern the 1.4 billion-member Catholic Church.

Pope Leo XIV He became the first American pontiff in church history when he was chosen by his fellow cardinals in May at a Vatican conclave.