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Pope Leo XIV urges peace and nuclear disarmament in new book foreword

July 21, 2026 · 1 min read

Pope Leo XIV has written a foreword to a new book, calling for peace and the elimination of nuclear weapons.

Originally published by Vatican News , the pontiff’s text is part of the new book “Disarmed and Disarming: Peace Is a Gift,” published by the Vatican Publishing House (Libreria Editrice Vaticana) in Italian on July 21. Edited by Alessandro Banfi, the book is a collection of Leo XIV’s addresses and reflections on peace since his election to the papacy in 2025.

The pope also invoked in his foreword American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan as well as Servants of God Dorothy Day, Floribert Bwana Chui, and Giorgio La Pira.

War is an adventure with no return Leo began the foreword with what had been his first words as pontiff, proclaimed from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica: “Peace be with you.” He explained the theological significance of those words, spoken by Christ after his resurrection, and decried the modern tendency for war.

“This was also the first gift the risen Christ offered to his friends and to the whole world: peace,” Leo wrote. “That gift, however, did not come ‘cheap.’”

“Today, a good 103 states are involved in some way in a war on Earth. Weapons boom…

Source: Catholic News Agency · Read the full story →

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Борис ИлиевPeace from the balcony of St. Peter's is nice to say, but when 103 countries are at war, how exactly do we get to "no nuclear weapons"? I wonder what he has to say about Bob Dylan and Dorothy Day - maybe I'll read the book.

Христо ДимитровBoris, that's exactly what intrigued me too - how to get from "your peace" to real disarmament when half the world is in conflicts. For Dylan and Dorothy Day, I'm curious if she'll mention Blowin' in the Wind or her Catholic Worker pacifism. I might buy the book too, let's see what exactly it says.

Radu NistorThe peace on the balcony of St. Peter is beautiful, but with 103 countries at war, how to move to "no nuclear weapons" seems a bit hard to believe. I'm interested in what he says about Bob Dylan and Dorothy Day, I might even read that book.

Тодор ИвановPeace from St. Peter's balcony sounds good, but when 103 countries are at war, how exactly are we going to get to "no nuclear weapons"? I'm interested in what exactly it says about Bob Dylan and Dorothy Day - maybe I'll check out the book if I can find it in Bulgarian.