Geneva: Amid intensifying global conflicts and a growing dependence on the language of force, the Holy See and representatives of the international community have echoed Pope Leo XIV’s call for a peace rooted not in weapons, but in dialogue, justice, and human dignity. The appeal was renewed during the 17th Annual Interreligious Service for Peace hosted by the Holy See’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Geneva.
The gathering, led by Archbishop Ettore Balestrero, Apostolic Nuncio and Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the UN, brought together nearly 300 diplomats, ambassadors, and religious leaders from across the world. Held at the Church of St. Nicolas de Flüe and jointly organised with the Diocese of Lausanne, Geneva, and Fribourg, the service offered a moment of reflection and prayer in response to the worsening global security climate.
At the heart of the event was Pope Leo XIV’s 2026 World Day of Peace Message titled, “Peace be with you all: Towards an ‘unarmed and disarming’ peace.” The message challenges the prevailing mindset that equates security with military strength and instead proposes reconciliation and cooperation as the foundations of lasting peace.
In his opening address, Archbishop Balestrero described the interreligious service as a deliberate alternative to what he called the “logic of violence.” He stressed that an “unarmed and disarming” peace does not seek victory through domination, but rather transforms relationships by fostering mutual understanding. Calling on diplomats and faith leaders alike, he urged resistance to the “weaponisation” of language and ideas, warning against the misuse of religion to justify hatred and bloodshed.
A central voice at the gathering was Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, who travelled from the Holy Land to participate. Speaking candidly about the realities of prolonged conflict, he cautioned against surrendering to despair. Accepting war as a normal feature of international relations, he said, would amount to abandoning humanity’s moral responsibility. Embracing the Pope’s message, he noted, is not an act of naïve idealism, but a “demanding hope” that requires courage and perseverance.
Reflecting on the situation in the Middle East, Cardinal Pizzaballa emphasized that ceasefires alone cannot guarantee peace. True and lasting peace, he said, must be grounded in justice. Yet justice itself is incomplete unless every person is recognized as a human being with dignity, rather than reduced to a means, an enemy, or an obstacle.
The humanitarian dimension of peace was underlined through a statement issued on behalf of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Delivered by Vice-President Giles Carbonnier on behalf of ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric, the message drew attention to the alarming reality of around 130 active armed conflicts worldwide. It warned that respect for international humanitarian law is eroding, placing countless civilian lives at risk.
“If there are a hundred steps on the road to peace, the first steps must be humanitarian,” the statement said, stressing that adherence to humanitarian law not only saves lives but also keeps open the fragile pathways that can eventually lead societies back to peace.
The interreligious character of the service was reflected in contributions from Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and Buddhist leaders, highlighting the shared ethical responsibility of faith traditions in confronting violence. The reflections were accompanied by hymns and songs from the parish’s Filipino and African choirs, symbolising both the cultural diversity of Geneva’s international community and the universal reach of the Church.
The service concluded with the Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi, led by Bishop Charles Morerod of the Diocese of Lausanne, Geneva, and Fribourg. The final prayer encapsulated the spirit of the gathering a collective plea for peace that disarms hearts before it disarms hands, and for a world where dialogue triumphs over force.