Pope Leo XIV has launched his prayer intention for March, entitled “For Disarmament and Peace,” an urgent message disseminated through the official video of the “Pray with the Pope” initiative. In it, the Pontiff directly calls upon the leaders of nations to have the courage to abandon “plans of death,” renounce weapons, and prioritize the path of dialogue and diplomacy, in a context marked by geopolitical tensions, escalating conflicts in the Middle East, and record levels of global military spending.

The video, produced by the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network in collaboration with the Dicastery for Communication, shows the Pope holding an olive branch—a universal symbol of peace—while reciting a prayer that resonates as a prophetic call. “Lord, enlighten the leaders of nations, so that they may have the courage to abandon plans of death,” Leo XIV says, recalling that God created humanity “for communion, not for war; for fraternity, not for destruction.”

The central message emphasizes that true security does not arise from a “balance of terror” or control based on fear, but from mutual trust, justice, and solidarity among peoples. The Pope specifically warns about the nuclear threat: “May the nuclear threat never again determine the future of humanity.” He calls for disarming not only arsenals, but also “the hearts of hatred, resentment, and indifference,” so that we may become “instruments of reconciliation.”

In the full text of the intention, Leo XIV offers a plea for everyday peace: “Holy Spirit, make us faithful and creative builders of everyday peace: in our hearts, in our families, in our communities, and in our cities. May every kind word, every gesture of reconciliation, and every choice of dialogue be seeds of a new world.” This vision connects global prayer with concrete actions, from daily gestures to high-level political decisions.

The launch comes at a time of growing concern about rearmament: according to data cited in the Vatican News article, global military spending reached $2.7 trillion in 2024, an increase of 9.4%. The Pope thus continues the line of his pontificate, marked by calls for a “disarmed and disarming peace,” inheriting Francis’s legacy of nonviolence and dialogue.

The video is available in several languages ​​(Italian, English, and Spanish) and is part of a monthly campaign inviting Catholics worldwide to unite in prayer and action. With this gesture, Leo XIV not only offers a spiritual intention but also directly addresses the collective conscience in an era of conflict and arms proliferation, reminding us that true peace begins with disarming the heart and culminates in effective disarmament treaties, especially regarding nuclear weapons.