"Reflections from Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and Buddhist leaders, interwoven with music from the parish’s Filipino and African choirs, highlighted the universality of the Geneva international community and of the Church."

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Holy See and diplomats echo Pope Leo’s call for an ‘unarmed’ peace

An interreligious service hosted by the Holy See’s Mission to the UN in Geneva gathers diplomats and religious leaders to reflect on Pope Leo XIV’s 2026 World Day of Peace Message amid escalating global conflicts. Cardinal Pizzaballa and the ICRC stress the urgent need for justice, humanitarian law, and a “demanding hope” grounded in dialogue and human dignity.
By Linda Bordoni
Against a backdrop of escalating conflict and a renewed reliance on the “logic of brute force,” the Holy See’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Geneva, led by Archbishop Ettore Balestrero, Apostolic Nuncio and Permanent Observer of the Holy See, hosted its 17th Annual Interreligious Service for Peace on Wednesday, bringing together around 300 diplomats, ambassadors, and religious leaders.
Held at the Church of St. Nicolas de Flüe and co-organised with the Diocese of Lausanne, Geneva, and Fribourg, the service centred on Pope Leo XIV’s 2026 World Day of Peace Message, “Peace be with you all: Towards …