World Day of Peace

“Peace be with you all. Toward a disarmed and disarming peace.”

Every year on January 1, the Catholic Church invites the world to reflect on the meaning of peace during the World Day of Peace, instituted in 1968 by Pope Paul VI. This observance was born from a vast global movement: more than three million young people from 125 countries had signed a petition calling for a day dedicated to peace and urging nations to redirect the equivalent of one day of military spending toward the fight against hunger, poverty, and major epidemics.

For 2026, Pope Leo XIV has chosen the theme “Peace be with you all. Toward a disarmed and disarming peace,” echoing the words he spoke from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica immediately after his election.

This message calls humanity to reject the logic of violence and war, and to embrace a genuine peace grounded in love, justice, and human dignity.

A disarmed peace because it relies neither on fear nor on weapons; a disarming peace because it has the power to open hearts, ease conflicts, and inspire trust, empathy, and hope.

As the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development reminds us, it is not enough to speak of peace — it must be lived through choices that reject all forms of violence, both visible and structural.

This message is addressed to all — believers and non-believers, political leaders and citizens — so that together we may build a future rooted in humanity and lasting peace.

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