Every January 1, the Catholic Church marks the World Day of Peace, a global call to prayer and action in the face of war, injustice, and division.
In Pope Leo XIV’s message for the World Day of Peace 2026, he calls the whole Catholic Church to embrace an “unarmed and disarming” peace — the peace of the Risen Christ — made visible through humble witness, mercy, and missionary presence in a wounded world.
This emphasis reflects a central theme of Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate from its very first words: “Peace be with you all.”
In 1967, Pope St. Paul VI established January 1 as the World Day of the Peace. This is a landmark, a vital day where all Christians are invited to reflect and work on the progress of peace among humanity.
This tradition has stood with its following successors: St. John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, Pope Francis, and now Pope Leo XIV.
Pope Leo, following in the footsteps of his predecessors, will continue this tradition on January 1st. Since his election, the Pontiff has been a true advocate for human rights, especially concerning peace.
The successor of Peter has had in his mind and heart the need for justice since the beginning of his journey. Since his opening speech at St. Peter’s Square, Pope Leo XIV has called for peace: “Peace be with you all”.
Every month, the Pope releases an intention with a video, and this December, Pope Leo XIV has called all Christians to pray for our brothers in Christ who live in areas of conflict.
“Peace be with you all. Towards an unarmed and disarming peace.”
On the 8th of December, the Holy See released the Holy Father’s message for World Peace Day. The particular theme of this message is “Peace be with you all. Towards an unarmed and disarming peace”.
In this document, the Pope repeatedly calls for the shedding of light among humanity, which casts out all darkness, and how the Risen One will lead us towards this reality. We’re called to be peacemakers who will love even their enemies, who foster the same violence that they’re against. This is the true mark of Christianity.
World Day of Peace is not only a moment of reflection — it is a reminder of the Church’s missionary responsibility to be a living sign of peace in the world. This vision lies at the heart of the mission of The Pontifical Mission Societies. Pope Leo XIV’s message for World Day of Peace 2026 emphasizes that peace is not merely the absence of war, but a gift of the Risen Christ that transforms hearts, communities, and nations when it is received and lived authentically.
Wherever the Gospel is proclaimed, peace must follow. Through prayer, charity, and solidarity with the Church in mission territories, TPMS supports communities that often live at the crossroads of poverty, conflict, and displacement. In these places, peace is not theoretical—it is fragile, hard-won, and deeply tied to human dignity.
By supporting missionary work across the globe, TPMS helps ensure that the Church remains present where peace is most urgently needed, witnessing to Christ not with weapons or power, but with compassion, service, and hope.
This missionary understanding of peace flows directly from the Church’s mission itself. From the Apostles to Pope Leo XIV, the proclamation of the Gospel has always carried Christ’s promise: ‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.’
“Unarmed and Disarming Peace”: Missionary Witness in a Divided World
In his message, Pope Leo XIV calls the faithful to pursue an “unarmed and disarming peace”—a peace that refuses violence and instead disarms hearts through humility, mercy, and dialogue.
This form of peace mirrors the way Christ himself entered the world: vulnerable, defenseless, and guided by love rather than force.
Missionaries embody this call every day. Whether serving in war-torn regions, marginalized communities, or areas marked by religious tension, missionaries are often among the first to remain when circumstances become dangerous and uncertain. Their presence alone becomes a testimony: peace is possible because Christ is present.
Through its four societies—the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, the Society of St. Peter the Apostle, the Missionary Childhood Association, and the Missionary Union—TPMS accompanies these witnesses of peace, ensuring they are spiritually and materially supported as they proclaim the Gospel in challenging contexts.
As the Church enters a new year, World Day of Peace reminds us that peace is not a distant ideal reserved for diplomats and leaders—it is a daily vocation entrusted to every Christian. Pope Leo XIV emphasizes that peace must be cultivated, protected, and chosen again and again, even when the world seems resigned to conflict and fear.
TPMS invites the faithful to respond to this call by participating in the Church’s universal mission. Through prayer for missionaries, financial support for mission dioceses, and formation rooted in solidarity, Catholics around the world become active partners in building peace that is rooted in faith and sustained by love.
This World Day of Peace, may we recommit ourselves to being instruments of Christ’s peace — unarmed, disarming, and enduring — so that the Gospel may continue to shine as a light in places where peace is most needed.
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