Pope Leo XIV calls Christians to renew hope and truth against fake news, violence, and deprivation during Regina Caeli in St. Peter’s Square.
Newsroom (06/04/2026 Gaudium Press ) At the Regina Caeli address on Easter Monday in Saint Peter’s Square, Pope Leo XIV called on Christians to bear courageous witness to the Gospel in a world he described as “disfigured by fake news, conflict, and confused consciences.” His message, delivered to thousands of pilgrims, centered on the power of truth and the call to bring light where violence and misinformation obscure hope.
Reflecting on the Gospel account of the empty tomb, the Pope drew attention to two starkly different narratives born from the same event: the testimony of the women who proclaimed Christ’s Resurrection, and the report of the guards who claimed the body had been stolen. “From this single fact arise two opposing interpretations,” he said, “one that proclaims life and another that denies it.”
He noted that this tension between truth and falsehood continues to resonate in modern times. “Often, the proclamation of truth is obscured by what we today call ‘fake news’—lies, insinuations, and unfounded accusations,” the Pope lamented. He urged believers to remain faithful witnesses “so that the Paschal mystery, in both word and deed, may give a new voice to hope,” particularly for those “oppressed by the evil that corrupts history and confuses consciences.”
Bearing the Gospel Without Fear
Pope Leo XIV reminded the faithful that, even amid confusion and deception, truth endures. Echoing Christ’s words to the women at the tomb—“Do not be afraid; go and tell”—he encouraged Christians not to falter in proclaiming the Gospel.
The Pope spoke with particular concern for those suffering from violence, poverty, and displacement. He cited the anguish of war-torn communities, persecuted believers, and children deprived of education as urgent reminders that “hope is often stifled by the hands of the violent.” He affirmed that wherever the Gospel is lived authentically, “it brings light into darkness and restores meaning amid confusion.”
Remembering Pope Francis
In a moment of solemn reflection, Pope Leo XIV invited the faithful to remember his predecessor, Pope Francis, who “on Easter Monday of last year, returned to the Lord.” Paying tribute to Francis’s “profound witness of faith and love,” he entrusted the Church to the Virgin Mary, Seat of Wisdom, praying that Christians everywhere may become “radiant heralds of the truth.”
A Call for Peace Through Sport
Following the Regina Caeli prayer, the Pope turned his thoughts toward the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, established by the United Nations. Highlighting sport’s universal language of fraternity, he called for athletic endeavors to become “a place of inclusion and peace,” renewing his appeal for international cooperation rooted in respect and compassion.
As the bells of Saint Peter’s Square rang out, the Pope’s words lingered—a call to live truthfully, act with courage, and rekindle hope in a world yearning for peace.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
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