Pope Leo XIV Says Peace Begins in the Human Heart in New Book Introduction
Pope Leo XIV has called on believers and political leaders alike to rediscover the spiritual roots of peace, insisting that only peaceful hearts can build a just and lasting peace. His reflection appears in the introduction to the English edition of Peace Be with You, released in the United States and other English speaking countries this week.
In his text, the Pope presents peace as both a divine gift and a human responsibility. He writes that peace is first given by God, yet it must be cultivated daily through conscious choices rooted in love, humility, and respect for others. In a world marked by ongoing conflicts and deepening divisions, he warns that peace is often defeated long before it reaches the battlefield.
According to Pope Leo XIV, the erosion of peace begins within the human heart. When selfishness, pride, and partisan interests dominate, the dignity of others is diminished. He reflects that refusing to listen to another person’s story is already a step toward dehumanization. To truly know another person, he suggests, requires love and friendship, echoing the teaching of Saint Augustine that no one can be known except through friendship.
The Pope describes peace in two dimensions. Vertically, it is a gift from above, revealed through the birth of Christ and renewed through the Resurrection. Horizontally, it is a task entrusted to every individual. He recalls the Gospel scene in which the Risen Christ greets his disciples with peace, presenting it as a peace marked by the wounds of crucifixion, born from sacrifice and compassion rather than force.
Beyond theology, the Holy Father connects peace to daily life. He speaks of teaching children to respect one another and reject bullying. He highlights the need to overcome personal pride within families, workplaces, and communities. Silence, prayer, and attentive listening to God are presented as foundations for a peaceful life. He also warns against environmental exploitation, describing the Earth as a creation entrusted to human care rather than abuse.
While acknowledging feelings of helplessness in the face of global wars, Pope Leo XIV encourages believers to respond through prayer. He describes prayer as an unarmed force seeking the common good without exclusion. Through prayer, he writes, the human ego is disarmed and replaced with sincerity and generosity.
The Pope further stresses the responsibility of political leaders and the international community to promote dialogue and mediation. Diplomacy, he notes, remains an essential path toward resolving conflicts and preventing further suffering. His message frames peace not as passive absence of war, but as an active culture of reconciliation built through trust, encounter, and shared responsibility.
