Name: Pope calls for unity during Holy Thursday mass amid global tensions
Uploaded: 2026-04-02T16:06:42.170Z
Duration: 1 min 1 s
Description: Pope Leo XIV led the Holy Thursday Chrism Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, using the occasion to speak against the abuse of power and the drive for domination.

Pope Leo XIV led the Holy Thursday Chrism Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, using the occasion to speak against the abuse of power and the drive for domination.

Rome

Pope Leo XIV presided over the Holy Thursday chrism mass at St Peter's Basilica, where he addressed the congregation on the importance of unity and peace. His remarks were delivered in the context of ongoing conflict in the Middle East, and he emphasized the need for reflection on the proper role of mission work.

The Pope also reiterated his previous criticisms of leaders who pursue war, specifically referencing the Trump administration's actions and policies. He warned that continued violence risks creating an unbridgeable divide and stated that God ignores the prayers of those who wage war.

Pope calls for unity during Holy Thursday mass amid global tensions

Pope Leo XIV led the Holy Thursday chrism mass at St Peter's Basilica, using the occasion to speak out against the abuse of power and the drive for domination. The Pope's message came against the backdrop of the ongoing war in the Middle East, with a call for unity, peace and reflection on the proper role of mission work. It comes just weeks after the pontiff spoke out against the fighting, warning that the spiral of violence risks becoming an unbridgeable chasm. Last Monday, the Pope said God ignores the prayers of leaders who wage war and have hands full of blood in an apparent rebuke to the Trump administration. The first American Pope has been a vocal critic of the Trump administration's policies since becoming the head of the Catholic Church last May, previously condemning the president's zeal for war following US military operations in the Caribbean and the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.

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