Pope Leo to hold first Easter Sunday celebration amid turmoil in the Middle East
Easter Sunday marks the first celebration with Pope Leo XIV at the helm, with the pontiff addressing the world on the holy day.
Thousands will gather as the American leader will front an Easter mass at St Peter’s Square from 9.30am Irish time.
Following the mass, Pope Leo will pronounce a traditional blessing.
Easter Sunday marks the first celebration with Pope Leo XIV at the helm, with the pontiff addressing the world on the day. Pic: Massimo Valicchia/NurPhoto via Getty Images
The celebration comes almost a year after the death of pope Francis, who was last seen on Easter Sunday 2025, just hours before his passing.
Taking to social media this weekend, Pope Leo spoke of the ‘severing of bonds through war.’
He said: ‘Even today there are tombs to be opened, and often the stones sealing them as so heavy and so closely guarded that they seem to be immovable.
The pope has repeatedly called for peace in the Middle East, and earlier in the week called on US President Donald Trump to help. Pic: Getty Images
‘Some weigh heavily on the human heart, such as mistrust, fear, selfishness and resentment; others, stemming from these inner struggles, sever the bonds between us through war, injustice and the isolation of peoples and nations.’
He added: ‘Let us not allow ourselves to be paralyzed by them!’
The pope has repeatedly called for peace in the Middle East, and earlier in the week called on US President Donald Trump to help diffuse the current situation.
Soldiers march during a military parade to mark Iran’s annual Army Day in Tehran on April 18, 2025. Pic: ATTA KENARE/AFP via Getty Images
In Jerusalem, services being held at the location Jesus Christ is believed to have resurrected are behind closed doors.
Jerusalem is among the areas caught in the crossfire between Israel and Hezbollah.
Restrictions on large gatherings have been put in place by Israel as a security precaution due to the ongoing threat of strikes from Iran.
It comes not long after Trump issued a chilling ultimatum to Iran for them to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
The American president threatened ‘hell will reign down on them’ if they didn’t reopen the Strait within 48 hours.
The threat came amid a desperate search for a missing US fighter pilot in Iran, with the airman allegedly shot down by Iran on Thursday.
