Pope Leo XIV presides over a Prayer Vigil and Rosary for Peace, in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, April 11, 2026. OSV NEWS PHOTO/REUTERS, REMO CASILLI
‘That Our Lord may hear our fervent desire for peace’
Faithful invited to pray for peace amid turmoil
BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC
On April 9, 2026, Bishop William F. Medley released a message to the priests and faithful of the Diocese of Owensboro, inviting them to pray for peace in a world torn by war.
“Throughout the world there are almost always places burdened by violence and war. Our Holy Father Pope Leo has prophetically been a voice across cultures calling the world to join together in prayers for peace,” wrote the bishop in reference to the pope’s “Urbi et orbi” message for Easter.
Pope Leo’s April 5 message had included mention of humanity “growing accustomed to violence, resigning ourselves to it, and becoming indifferent,” as well as indifference to the “deaths of thousands of people.”
“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 had challenged the faithful. He also invited all people to join him in a prayer vigil for peace on April 11.
Bishop Medley, in his own message, reflected that “In these days as Christians celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, we find our own nation embroiled in a war with rhetoric that escalates the danger to millions of people and challenges our nation’s conscience.”
He went on to write, “I join Catholic bishops across the United States in calling all people of good will to prayer that peace may prevail. Jesus’ first words to his gathered disciples after his Resurrection were, ‘Peace be with you.’
“We repeat this admonition in our prayer. This week Pope Leo is calling for us to join in a vigil of prayers for peace. While every parish may not have time to plan a specific opportunity to come together in prayer, we can all join in prayer from our own space and time.
“Please join me and all people of good will and consider a commitment of prayer and good works that Our Lord may hear our fervent desire for peace.”
Bishop Medley also invited the staff of the McRaith Catholic Center, the pastoral center of the Diocese of Owensboro, to make praying for peace the focus of their intentions during the month of April.
Among parishes observing the day, St. Stephen Cathedral and St. Pius X Parish in Owensboro held vigils for peace that Saturday. St. Pius’s parishioners gathered at 11 a.m. which coincided with the conclusion of Pope Leo’s vigil in Rome. Their pastor, Fr. Larry Hostetter, led participants in scripture, Eucharistic Adoration, and the rosary.
At the cathedral, following 9 a.m. Mass, rector Fr. John Thomas invited those present to stay for Eucharistic Adoration and to pray for peace.
To read Pope Leo’s full text of his Urbi et orbi message that he gave on Easter, in which he invited the world to pray together for peace, visit https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/messages/urbi/documents/20260405-urbi-et-orbi-pasqua.html.
Originally printed in the May 2026 issue of The Western Kentucky Catholic.
