Unite In Prayer with Pope Leo XIV

On Easter Sunday, Pope Leo XIV issued a heartfelt call to Catholics and all people of goodwill across the world: to come together in prayer for peace. This global vigil will take place at St. Peter’s Basilica on Saturday, April 11. The vigil will begin at 6:00 p.m. (Rome time), corresponding to 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time. At that hour, the Catholic Church across every nation will be united in prayer—an unbroken chain of faith, hope, and love stretching across continents.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

We join with Our Holy Father Pope Leo XIV in praying for peace.

Our world is in a dangerous moment, and as Catholics we need to do our part to help our leaders and our brothers and sisters everywhere to find ways to solve their conflicts other than by violence and war.

In the Gospels, Jesus wept twice. Once at the death of Lazarus, His friend. And then again when He entered Jerusalem for the final time at the start of Holy Week.

As He wept over the city, Jesus said: “Would that even today you knew the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes” (Luke 19:41–42).

Sadly, this is still true in our world. The ways that make for peace are still hidden from our eyes.

With our Holy Father we pray that Jesus will lift the veil from all of our eyes, that all of us can find our way back — to the things that make for peace. We pray especially for our leaders.

Peace is the gift that Jesus brings — peace on earth, and peace for every heart.

But the work of making peace, the work of bringing His peace to the world — that work is ours to do. This is the mission Jesus gives to each of His disciples: to be peacemakers, each in our own way, each in our own area, so that we can be called children of God (Matt. 5:9).

So, I invite every member of the family of God here in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles to pray for peace in our world. In this Jubilee Year of St. Francis of Assisi, let us also ask Jesus to make us instruments of His peace — in our homes, in the places where we work, and in our communities.

May Holy Mary, the Queen of Peace, pray for our families and our world.

Most Reverend José H. Gomez
Archbishop of Los Angeles

(PDF in English // PDF in Spanish)

Parishes in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles will be taking part in this sacred moment, joining spiritually with the Holy Father and with millions around the world, including Our Lady of Talpa Church with Mass at 6:00 p.m., followed by Eucharistic Adoration from 7:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. and  St. Thomas the Apostle Church with Mass at 8:00 a.m., followed by a Holy Hour and Rosary for peace. Additionally, Christ the King Parish, the official Divine Mercy Shrine of the Archdiocese, will host a full day of services on Sunday, April 12, in celebration of Divine Mercy Sunday—a powerful continuation of this prayer for mercy and peace.