Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV has chosen the theme “Peace be with you all: Towards an ‘unarmed and disarming’ peace” for the 2026 World Day of Peace, celebrated annually on January 1, the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. The Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development released the announcement on Tuesday, stressing the Holy Father’s call for humanity to reject violence and embrace a peace rooted in justice and love.
The phrase “unarmed and disarming,” a hallmark of Pope Leo XIV’s messages since his election on May 8, 2025, captures his vision of peace not dependent on weapons, fear, or threats, but rather capable of healing divisions, building trust, and opening hearts. “It is not enough to call for peace,” the Dicastery emphasized. “We must live it in our daily choices, rejecting all forms of violence, both visible and systemic.”
The message underscores the Pope’s conviction that peace is a universal vocation, extending to every person believers and non-believers, leaders and citizens alike. Citing the words of the Risen Christ, “Peace be with you” (Jn 20:19), the Vatican statement invited all to commit themselves to building a humane and reconciled future.
Alongside the theme’s release, the Vatican Publishing House (LEV) launched a new volume titled “And Let There Be Peace! Words to the Church and the World”. The book collects Pope Leo XIV’s first addresses, marked by his insistence on reconciliation, the primacy of God, and the communion of the Church. It will be available in English, Italian, and Spanish beginning August 27.
The Pope’s frequent use of the expression “unarmed and disarming” draws inspiration from Trappist monk Charles-Marie Christian de Chergé, martyred in Algeria in 1996 along with his companions of Tibhirine. In a providential link, Pope Leo’s election on May 8 coincided with the liturgical memorial of the Algerian martyrs.
“Peace begins with each one of us,” the Pope affirms in the book. “In how we look at others, listen to others, and speak about others.” His message for the 2026 World Day of Peace thus offers not only a call to nations but also a challenge to every individual: to build peace by disarming hearts and lives.