On May 8, 2025, from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Leo XIV addressed his first words to the world as the successor of Peter: “Peace be with you all”. In the midst of an international context marked by violence, wars and polarization, his voice came as a clear and profound invitation: to build bridges, to live in unity and to open paths of peace.
“Help us build bridges,” he asked on that historic afternoon. And since then, during this first year of his pontificate, that desire has become the guiding thread of his messages, gestures and prayers.
A “disarmed and disarming” peace
In his first interventions, Pope Leo XIV spoke of “the peace of the Risen Christ, a peace that is unarmed and disarming, humble and persevering”. An expression that has profoundly marked the Church and the world, reminding us that peace is not born of imposition or fear, but of encounter, reconciliation and love that becomes close.
Throughout this year, his appeals have been constant. In audiences, homilies, international meetings and public messages, he has insisted on the urgent need to reject division and violence, opting for dialogue and fraternity.
“Peace has the breath of the eternal; while to evil one cries ‘enough’, to peace one whispers ‘forever’,”he wrote in his message for the World Day of Peace 2026, letting a firm hope resound even in the midst of the world’s fragility.
Praying and acting for peace
During this year, the Pope also wanted to mobilize the whole Church through the monthly prayer intentions entrusted to his World Prayer Network. Each intention is a call to transform prayer into concrete commitment, cultivating a more human, fraternal and united outlook.
Particularly significant was the intention of March 2026: “For disarmament and peace”, where he invited to pray that nations move towards effective disarmament and leaders choose the path of dialogue and diplomacy rather than violence.
But all of this year’s intentions have the same horizon: to care for life, to sustain hope, to accompany those who suffer and to build more human and reconciled communities.
As a gesture of gratitude and commitment on this first anniversary of his pontificate, we invite you to join this “Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network” in the certainty of how necessary and valuable prayer is for those who suffer most in our world.
Mother Candida Family unites in prayer
As Mother Candida Family, we want to join with gratitude this first anniversary of his pontificate, welcoming the insistent call of Pope Leo XIV to be people of encounter, reconciliation and peace.
We pray for Pope Leo XIV, that the Lord may continue to sustain his mission at the service of the Church and the world. And we also pray for peace, that humble and persevering peace that he invites us to build every day in our communities, families and realities.
May Mary, Queen of Peace, accompany us on this journey and help us to continue to be artisans of communion and hope.
