Pope Leo XIV Calls for Peace on 9/11 Anniversary
Pope Leo XIV, hailed as the first American pope, urged a renewed commitment to peace as he commemorated the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks on the United States. The Chicago-born pope made these remarks during his Sunday noon blessing from the studio window overlooking St. Peter’s Square.
“Two days ago marked the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the United States of America,” Pope Leo stated in English. “I renew my prayers for those who lost their lives and for those who continue to bear the wounds of that tragic day.”
He emphasized the significance of peace in times of widespread conflict and violence. “I invite everyone to pray that the Lord will bestow his gift of peace upon the world,” he added.
Later, speaking in Italian, the pope reaffirmed the importance of remembering past tragedies as a motive to pursue peace fervently. “The memory of the tragic events of 25 years ago pushes us to renew our commitment to peace, above all with prayer,” he noted.
On the day of the September 11 attacks in 2001, Robert Prevost, as he was known then, was participating in an assembly of his Augustinian religious order in Rome. At that time, he served as the Chicago provincial leader of the Augustinians. Just days after the attacks, on September 14, his birthday, he was elected as the superior of the entire order, a role he fulfilled until 2012.
Excerpts from his first homily as superior, shared by Vatican News on Sunday, reveal reflections on the events of September 11. He addressed the gravity of the attacks and the global problems they underscore. “We cannot fail to remember the tragic events that shook the United States on Sept. 11,” he insisted. “The violence that the world witnessed last week in the United States is a tragic expression of a series of problems that are becoming increasingly acute everywhere.”
Pope Leo noted that hatred and violence will persist while people face extreme poverty and various forms of injustice.
Reflecting historical visits, two popes have been to Ground Zero: Pope Benedict in 2008 and Pope Francis in 2015.