CANNES, France (AP) — Much of the cinema world has descended on the Cannes Film Festival as the French Riviera extravaganza holds its 78th edition.
This gallery features daily highlights from the festival curated by Associated Press photo editors.
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John Taylor, from left, Roger Taylor, Nick Rhodes, Simon Le Bon of Duran Duran pose for photographers upon arrival at the amfAR Cinema Against AIDS benefit at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, during the 78th Cannes international film festival, Cap d'Antibes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)
Gustave Kervern, from left, Louis-Do de Lencquesaing, Pierre Richard, Timi-Joy Marbot, Ceyla Lacerda and Olivier Defays pose for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film 'Colours of Time' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Lewis Joly/Invision/AP)
Peter Lanzani, from left, director Matteo Zoppis, John C. Reilly, Nadia Tereszkiewicz, Alessandro Borghi, director Alessio Rigo de Righi, Gianni Garko and Gabriele Silli pose for photographers at the photo call for the film 'Heads or Tails?' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Lewis Joly/Invision/AP)
James Franco, left, and Izabel Pakzad pose for photographers upon arrival at the amfAR Cinema Against AIDS benefit at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, during the 78th Cannes international film festival, Cap d'Antibes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP)
Adrien Brody, left, and Georgina Chapman pose for photographers upon arrival at the amfAR Cinema Against AIDS benefit at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, during the 78th Cannes international film festival, Cap d'Antibes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP)
Jennifer Schwalbach Smith, from left, Kevin Smith, Harley Quinn Smith and Austin Zajur pose for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film 'Colours of Time' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Lewis Joly/Invision/AP)
Kevin Spacey poses for photographers upon arrival at the amfAR Cinema Against AIDS benefit at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, during the 78th Cannes international film festival, Cap d'Antibes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)
Magda Swider poses for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film 'Colours of Time' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Lewis Joly/Invision/AP)
Bruno Levy, from left, Suzanne Lindon and Cecile de France pose for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film 'Colours of Time' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan poses for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film 'Colours of Time' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Barbara Palvin poses for photographers upon arrival at the amfAR Cinema Against AIDS benefit at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, during the 78th Cannes international film festival, Cap d'Antibes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP)
Sara Giraudeau, from left, Cecile de France and Suzanne Lindon pose for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film 'Colours of Time' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Lewis Joly/Invision/AP)
Izabel Goulart poses for photographers upon arrival at the amfAR Cinema Against AIDS benefit at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, during the 78th Cannes international film festival, Cap d'Antibes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP)
Victoria Silvstedt poses for photographers upon arrival at the amfAR Cinema Against AIDS benefit at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, during the 78th Cannes international film festival, Cap d'Antibes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)
Ciara poses for photographers upon arrival at the amfAR Cinema Against AIDS benefit at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, during the 78th Cannes international film festival, Cap d'Antibes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)
Lena Mahfouf poses for photographers upon arrival at the amfAR Cinema Against AIDS benefit at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, during the 78th Cannes international film festival, Cap d'Antibes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)
John Taylor, from left, Roger Taylor, Nick Rhodes, Simon Le Bon of Duran Duran pose for photographers upon arrival at the amfAR Cinema Against AIDS benefit at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, during the 78th Cannes international film festival, Cap d'Antibes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)
Paul Mescal poses for photographers at the photo call for the film 'The History of Sound' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
John C. Reilly poses for photographers at the photo call for the film 'Heads or Tails?' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Lewis Joly/Invision/AP)
Patrick Ta poses for photographers upon arrival at the amfAR Cinema Against AIDS benefit at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, during the 78th Cannes international film festival, Cap d'Antibes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)
Skye Hankey poses for photographers upon arrival at the amfAR Cinema Against AIDS benefit at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, during the 78th Cannes international film festival, Cap d'Antibes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP)
Coleman Domingo poses for photographers upon arrival at the amfAR Cinema Against AIDS benefit at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, during the 78th Cannes international film festival, Cap d'Antibes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP)
Karolina Kurkova poses for photographers upon arrival at the amfAR Cinema Against AIDS benefit at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, during the 78th Cannes international film festival, Cap d'Antibes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)
Bruno Levy, from left, Suzanne Lindon and Cecile de France pose for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film 'Colours of Time' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Paul Kircher, from left, Suzanne Lindon and Vassili Schneider pose for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film 'Colours of Time' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Gustave Kervern, from left, Louis-Do de Lencquesaing, Pierre Richard, Timi-Joy Marbot, Ceyla Lacerda and Olivier Defays pose for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film 'Colours of Time' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Lewis Joly/Invision/AP)
Helen Mirren poses for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film 'Colours of Time' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, from left, Helen Mirren and Cara Delevingne pose for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film 'Colours of Time' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Lewis Joly/Invision/AP)
Louis-Do de Lencquesaing, from left, Timi-Joy Marbot, Pierre Richard, Ceyla Lacerda and Frederic Niedermayer poses for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film 'Colours of Time' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Lewis Joly/Invision/AP)
Cara Delevingne poses for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film 'Colours of Time' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Lewis Joly/Invision/AP)
Helen Mirren poses for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film 'Colours of Time' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Lewis Joly/Invision/AP)
Anna Geislerova poses for photographers at the photo call for the film 'Caravan' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)
Nicolas Mathieu poses for photographers at the photo call for the film 'Sentimental Value' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)
David Vodstrcil poses for photographers at the photo call for the film 'Caravan' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)
Renate Reinsve poses for photographers at the photo call for the film 'Sentimental Value' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)
Anders Danielsen Lie poses for photographers at the photo call for the film 'Sentimental Value' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)
John C. Reilly poses for photographers at the photo call for the film 'Heads or Tails?' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Lewis Joly/Invision/AP)
Bastien Bouillon, left, and Melanie Laurent pose for photographers at the photo call for the film 'Connemara' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Director Joachim Trier, from left, Renate Reinsve, Stellan Skarsgard and Elle Fanning pose for photographers at the photo call for the film 'Sentimental Value' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)
Elle Fanning poses for photographers at the photo call for the film 'Sentimental Value' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)
Director Oliver Hermanus, from left, and Paul Mescal pose for photographers at the photo call for the film 'The History of Sound' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Director Alex Lutz poses for photographers at the photo call for the film 'Connemara' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Mitch, left, and Llucia Garcia pose for photographers at the photo call for the film 'Romeria' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Lewis Joly/Invision/AP)
Peter Lanzani, from left, director Matteo Zoppis, John C. Reilly, Nadia Tereszkiewicz, Alessandro Borghi, director Alessio Rigo de Righi, Gianni Garko and Gabriele Silli pose for photographers at the photo call for the film 'Heads or Tails?' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Lewis Joly/Invision/AP)
Nadia Tereszkiewicz, left, and Alessandro Borghi pose for photographers at the photo call for the film 'Heads or Tails?' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Lewis Joly/Invision/AP)
Melanie Thierry poses for photographers at the photo call for the film 'Connemara' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
James Franco, left, and Izabel Pakzad pose for photographers upon arrival at the amfAR Cinema Against AIDS benefit at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, during the 78th Cannes international film festival, Cap d'Antibes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP)
Adrien Brody, left, and Georgina Chapman pose for photographers upon arrival at the amfAR Cinema Against AIDS benefit at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, during the 78th Cannes international film festival, Cap d'Antibes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP)
Jennifer Schwalbach Smith, from left, Kevin Smith, Harley Quinn Smith and Austin Zajur pose for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film 'Colours of Time' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Lewis Joly/Invision/AP)
Kevin Spacey poses for photographers upon arrival at the amfAR Cinema Against AIDS benefit at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, during the 78th Cannes international film festival, Cap d'Antibes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)
Magda Swider poses for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film 'Colours of Time' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Lewis Joly/Invision/AP)
Bruno Levy, from left, Suzanne Lindon and Cecile de France pose for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film 'Colours of Time' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan poses for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film 'Colours of Time' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Barbara Palvin poses for photographers upon arrival at the amfAR Cinema Against AIDS benefit at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, during the 78th Cannes international film festival, Cap d'Antibes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP)
Sara Giraudeau, from left, Cecile de France and Suzanne Lindon pose for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film 'Colours of Time' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Lewis Joly/Invision/AP)
Izabel Goulart poses for photographers upon arrival at the amfAR Cinema Against AIDS benefit at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, during the 78th Cannes international film festival, Cap d'Antibes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP)
Victoria Silvstedt poses for photographers upon arrival at the amfAR Cinema Against AIDS benefit at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, during the 78th Cannes international film festival, Cap d'Antibes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)
Ciara poses for photographers upon arrival at the amfAR Cinema Against AIDS benefit at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, during the 78th Cannes international film festival, Cap d'Antibes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)
Lena Mahfouf poses for photographers upon arrival at the amfAR Cinema Against AIDS benefit at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, during the 78th Cannes international film festival, Cap d'Antibes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)
John Taylor, from left, Roger Taylor, Nick Rhodes, Simon Le Bon of Duran Duran pose for photographers upon arrival at the amfAR Cinema Against AIDS benefit at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, during the 78th Cannes international film festival, Cap d'Antibes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)
Paul Mescal poses for photographers at the photo call for the film 'The History of Sound' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
John C. Reilly poses for photographers at the photo call for the film 'Heads or Tails?' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Lewis Joly/Invision/AP)
Patrick Ta poses for photographers upon arrival at the amfAR Cinema Against AIDS benefit at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, during the 78th Cannes international film festival, Cap d'Antibes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)
Skye Hankey poses for photographers upon arrival at the amfAR Cinema Against AIDS benefit at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, during the 78th Cannes international film festival, Cap d'Antibes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP)
Coleman Domingo poses for photographers upon arrival at the amfAR Cinema Against AIDS benefit at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, during the 78th Cannes international film festival, Cap d'Antibes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP)
Karolina Kurkova poses for photographers upon arrival at the amfAR Cinema Against AIDS benefit at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, during the 78th Cannes international film festival, Cap d'Antibes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)
Bruno Levy, from left, Suzanne Lindon and Cecile de France pose for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film 'Colours of Time' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Paul Kircher, from left, Suzanne Lindon and Vassili Schneider pose for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film 'Colours of Time' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Gustave Kervern, from left, Louis-Do de Lencquesaing, Pierre Richard, Timi-Joy Marbot, Ceyla Lacerda and Olivier Defays pose for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film 'Colours of Time' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Lewis Joly/Invision/AP)
Helen Mirren poses for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film 'Colours of Time' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, from left, Helen Mirren and Cara Delevingne pose for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film 'Colours of Time' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Lewis Joly/Invision/AP)
Louis-Do de Lencquesaing, from left, Timi-Joy Marbot, Pierre Richard, Ceyla Lacerda and Frederic Niedermayer poses for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film 'Colours of Time' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Lewis Joly/Invision/AP)
Cara Delevingne poses for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film 'Colours of Time' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Lewis Joly/Invision/AP)
Helen Mirren poses for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film 'Colours of Time' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Lewis Joly/Invision/AP)
Anna Geislerova poses for photographers at the photo call for the film 'Caravan' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)
Nicolas Mathieu poses for photographers at the photo call for the film 'Sentimental Value' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)
David Vodstrcil poses for photographers at the photo call for the film 'Caravan' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)
Renate Reinsve poses for photographers at the photo call for the film 'Sentimental Value' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)
Anders Danielsen Lie poses for photographers at the photo call for the film 'Sentimental Value' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)
John C. Reilly poses for photographers at the photo call for the film 'Heads or Tails?' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Lewis Joly/Invision/AP)
Bastien Bouillon, left, and Melanie Laurent pose for photographers at the photo call for the film 'Connemara' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Director Joachim Trier, from left, Renate Reinsve, Stellan Skarsgard and Elle Fanning pose for photographers at the photo call for the film 'Sentimental Value' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)
Elle Fanning poses for photographers at the photo call for the film 'Sentimental Value' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)
Director Oliver Hermanus, from left, and Paul Mescal pose for photographers at the photo call for the film 'The History of Sound' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Director Alex Lutz poses for photographers at the photo call for the film 'Connemara' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Mitch, left, and Llucia Garcia pose for photographers at the photo call for the film 'Romeria' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Lewis Joly/Invision/AP)
Peter Lanzani, from left, director Matteo Zoppis, John C. Reilly, Nadia Tereszkiewicz, Alessandro Borghi, director Alessio Rigo de Righi, Gianni Garko and Gabriele Silli pose for photographers at the photo call for the film 'Heads or Tails?' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Lewis Joly/Invision/AP)
Nadia Tereszkiewicz, left, and Alessandro Borghi pose for photographers at the photo call for the film 'Heads or Tails?' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Lewis Joly/Invision/AP)
Melanie Thierry poses for photographers at the photo call for the film 'Connemara' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Leo XIV celebrated his first Easter Mass as pontiff with a call Sunday to lay down arms and seek peace to global conflicts through dialogue, but he departed from a tradition of listing the world's woes by name in the Urbi et Orbi blessing from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica.
Leo, the first U.S.-born pope, emphasized Easter’s message of hope as a celebration of Jesus’ resurrection after being crucified.
“Let us allow our hearts to be transformed by his immense love for us! Let those who have weapons lay them down! Let those who have the power to unleash wars choose peace! Not a peace imposed by force, but through dialogue! Not with the desire to dominate others, but to encounter them!” the pope implored.
With the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran in its second month and Russia’s ongoing campaign in Ukraine, Leo acknowledged a sense of indifference “to the deaths of thousands of people ... to the repercussions of hatred and division that conflicts sow … to the economic and social consequences they produce.’’
Without mentioning the wars by name, Leo quoted his predecessor, Pope Francis, who during his last public appearance from the same loggia last Easter reminded the faithful of the “great thirst for death, for killing, we witness each day.’’
Francis, weakened by a long illness, died the next day on Easter Monday.
The Urbi et Orbi blessing, Latin for “to the city and the world,’’ has traditionally included a litany of the world’s woes. Leo followed that formula during his Christmas blessing. There was no immediate explanation for the shift.
Earlier, Leo addressed some 50,000 faithful from an open-air altar in St. Peter’s Square flanked with white roses, while the steps leading down to the piazza where the faithful gathered were filled with spring perennials, symbolically resonating with the pope’s words.
He implored the faithful in his homily to keep their hope in the face of death, which lurks "in the abuses that crush the weakest among us, because of the idolatry of profit that plunders the earth’s resources, because of the violence of war that kills and destroys.’’
Speaking from the loggia, the pope announced a prayer vigil for peace April 11 in the basilica.
“On this day of celebration, let us abandon every desire for conflict, domination, and power, and implore the Lord to grant his peace to a world ravaged by wars and marked by a hatred and indifference that makes us feel powerless in the face of evil,’’ he said.
Leo greeted the global faithful in 10 languages, including Arabic, Chinese and Latin, reviving a practice that his predecessor Pope Francis had let lapse.
Before retreating into the basilica, Leo stepped forward out of the loggia’s shadow and waved to the cheering crowd below. He later greeted people in the piazza from the popemobile that took him all the way down Via della Conciliazione toward the Tiber River and back.
During the marathon that is Holy Week, Leo also reclaimed the tradition of washing priests’ feet on Holy Thursday, a gesture of encouragement toward clergy, after Francis had chosen a more inclusive path, traveling to prisons and homes for the disabled to wash the feet of women, non-Christians and prisoners.
The 70-year-old pontiff also became the first pope in decades to carry the light wooden cross for the entire 14 stations during the Way of the Cross on Good Friday.
Traditional ceremonies at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, revered by Christians as the traditional site of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, were scaled back under an agreement with Israeli police. Authorities have put limits on the sizes of public gatherings due to ongoing missile attacks.
The restrictions also dampened the recent Muslim holy month of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr holiday, as well as the current weeklong Jewish festival of Passover. On Sunday, the Jewish priestly blessing at the Western Wall — normally attended by tens of thousands — was limited to just 50 people.
The restrictions have strained relations between Israeli authorities and Christian leaders. Police last week prevented two of the church’s top religious leaders, including Latin Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa, from celebrating Palm Sunday at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
On Tuesday, the pope had expressed hope that the war could be finished before Easter.
Armenian Christians celebrated Easter at a church in Iran’s capital on Sunday, striving to maintain a sense of normalcy five weeks into the war.
Families embraced and children exchanged painted eggs at the St. Sarkis Cathedral in central Tehran. Iran’s capital has been targeted by daily airstrikes since the United States and Israel launched the war on Feb. 28.
“Whether we like it or not, we have young children who do not understand what’s going on,” said Juanita Arakel, 40, an English language teacher. “They just need to feel normal.”
The Islamic Republic, with a population of around 90 million, is home to some 300,000 Christians, mostly Armenians, and three seats in parliament are reserved for Christians.
“My appeal first is to those who started the war to look up to the sky where love and mutual respect was given to us, whether through the birth of Jesus or his rising from the dead,” said Sepuh Sargsyan, the archbishop of the Armenian Diocese of Tehran. “Our calls and prayers are that we will be able to end this war.”
Barry reported from Milan. Associated Press writer Josef Federman in Jerusalem and Bassem Mroue in Tehran, Iran, contributed to this report.
Pope Leo XIV greets the faithful at the end of Easter Mass he presided over in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Sunday, April 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Pope Leo XIV addresses the faithful after delivering the Urbi et Orbi blessing - Latin for "to the city of Rome and to the world" - from the central loggia of St. Peter's Basilica at the end of Easter Mass he presided over in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Sunday, April 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Pope Leo XIV delivers the Urbi et Orbi blessing - Latin for "to the city of Rome and to the world" - from the central loggia of St. Peter's Basilica at the end of Easter Mass he presided over in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Sunday, April 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Pope Leo XIV addresses the faithful after delivering the Urbi et Orbi blessing - Latin for "to the city of Rome and to the world" - from the central loggia of St. Peter's Basilica at the end of Easter Mass he presided over in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Sunday, April 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Pope Leo XIV presides over Easter Mass in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Sunday, April 5, 2026 (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Clergy follow Pope Leo XIV as he presides over Easter Mass in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Sunday, April 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Pope Leo XIV presides over Easter Mass in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Sunday, April 5, 2026 (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Pope Leo XIV arrives to preside over Easter Mass in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Sunday, April 5, 2026 (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Pope Leo XIV sprinkles holy water with a bunch of hyssop sprigs as he presides over Easter Mass in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, Sunday, April 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)