Vatican City: As the Church marks the World Day of Peace, Pope Leo XIV has called the world to choose an unarmed and disarming peace at a time when fear and conflict dominate global life.

Reflecting on Pope’s first World Day of Peace message, Marie Dennis, director of the Catholic Institute for Nonviolence of Pax Christi, said the message presents peace not as an abstract ideal but as a practical and deeply Gospel-centered way of living.

Speaking to Vatican News, Dennis noted that the Pope’s message is fully consistent with the vision he has shared since the beginning of his papacy. According to her, Pope Leo XIV speaks of peace that does not rely on weapons, force, or intimidation, but instead grows through humility, patience, and perseverance.

Dennis explained that an unarmed peace rejects violence and military buildup, while a disarming peace goes further by actively breaking cycles of hostility. She described it as a process that seeks new relationships, even with those seen as enemies, and opens space for dialogue and reconciliation.

In a world facing rising wars and deepening tensions, Dennis said the Pope is offering a radically different response. Rather than feeding fear, the message invites people and nations to move beyond it, to recognize the dignity of every person, including migrants and those often portrayed as threats.

She also highlighted Pope’s call for peace that perseveres over time. True peace, she said, cannot be rushed. It requires listening, truth telling, and sustained effort, both between individuals and among nations. In this spirit, the Pope encourages strengthening international institutions that promote cooperation and dialogue rather than dismantling them.

One of the strongest images in the message is Pope’s invitation for communities to become houses of peace. Dennis said these are places where dialogue replaces hostility, justice is practiced, and forgiveness is valued. She stressed that this vision applies to parishes, schools, religious communities, and even the Church’s diplomatic work.

Dennis acknowledged that such a vision may seem difficult in places torn by violence, from Ukraine to parts of Africa and the Middle East. Yet she insisted that this form of peace is already being lived quietly in many parts of the world, through daily acts of care, protection of the vulnerable, and commitment to human dignity.

Addressing the belief that nonviolence is unrealistic, Dennis pointed to growing research showing that nonviolent strategies often succeed better than armed responses. She said nonviolence is not passive, but a disciplined and effective approach that can be learned and practiced even in extreme situations.

Concluding her reflection, Dennis described the Pope’s message as a powerful call to hope. She said it does not deny suffering or conflict, but firmly insists that peace grounded in Gospel nonviolence remains possible, even in today’s wounded world.