Vatican Pope Easter

Pope Leo XIV has celebrated his first Easter Mass as pontiff, urging peace through dialogue and calling for an end to conflicts worldwide. He departed from tradition by not listing global woes in his Urbi et Orbi blessing. Leo, the first U.S.-born pope, emphasized Easter’s message of hope and transformation. With ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, he acknowledges indifference to the suffering caused by wars. Leo announced a prayer vigil for peace on April 11. In the Holy Land, Easter celebrations are subdued due to restrictions on public gatherings, while Gazan Christians celebrated the first Easter since a ceasefire. Armenian Christians gathered in the Iranian capital during the fifth week of war.

Pope Leo XIV is making a long and ambitious odyssey across four African countries -- Algeria, Angola, Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea. The visit will put Leo’s linguistic, cultural and endurance chops to the test, even for a relatively young and fit pope who loves to travel and crisscrossed the globe as superior of his Augustinian religious order. The 70-year-old Leo will cover about 11,000 miles on 18 flights over 11 days starting Monday. He'll deliver speeches and homilies in French, Spanish, Portuguese and English in a part of the world that is crucial for the continued growth of the Catholic Church, but poses unique challenges as well.