By Almudena Martínez-Bordiú
Vatican City, May 30, 2025 / 15:44 pm
Pope Leo XIV emphasized that authentic peace “takes shape from the ground up” when differences and conflicts are acknowledged, understood, and surmounted.
Pope Leo began his address to members of various peace movements, whom he received on May 30 at the Vatican, with the same words he greeted the faithful when he was elected on May 8: “Dear brothers and sisters, peace be with you!”
The pontiff expressed gratitude for the “Arena of Peace” meeting held in Verona in May 2024, which was chaired by Pope Francis and attended by delegates from various associations and movements.
Among the groups and movements present at the audience were Mediterranea Saving Humans, Libera, the Italian Network for Peace and Disarmament, Catholic Action leaders, Doctors Without Borders, and the Focolare Movement.
Pope Leo recalled Pope Francis’ emphasis on standing alongside victims as the starting point for building peace, a crucial step in disarming hearts and minds and denouncing injustices.
Path to peace requires hearts and minds trained in concern for others
The Holy Father highlighted the courageous embrace between Israeli Maoz Inon and Palestinian Aziz Sarah, both of whom had experienced personal loss due to conflict, demonstrating the power of empathy and reconciliation.
