On April 20, Pope Francis, in his Easter message, urged Azerbaijan and Armenia to reach a peace agreement as soon as possible, expressing hope for their final reconciliation and regional restoration.

In his message, the pontiff emphasized that “peace is not possible without disarmament” and stressed the importance of preventing a global arms race while acknowledging each nation’s need to ensure its own defense. He also called for peace in the Holy Land, where this year’s Easter was celebrated by both Catholics and Orthodox Christians.

Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church, expressed solidarity with suffering Christians in Palestine and Israel, as well as the entire Israeli and Palestinian populations. He further called for prayers for Christian communities in Lebanon and Syria and for peace in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Notably, Pope Francis, the 88-year-old leader of the Roman Catholic Church, passed away on April 21, 2025, at 7:35 a.m. Central European Summer Time (CEST) at his residence, the Domus Sanctae Marthae in Vatican City. The Vatican confirmed his death in a statement by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who praised the late pontiff for his humility and dedication to the marginalized.