Guwahati, 24 February 2026: Peace is both a gift from God and a responsibility entrusted to humanity, Pope Leo XIV writes in the introduction to his new book “Peace Be with You!”, published by HarperCollins and released in English-speaking countries on February 24. The book is the English edition of “E pace sia!”, first published by the Vatican Publishing House in August 2025.
In his reflection, the Holy Father describes peace as one of the great challenges of our time. While it is a divine gift revealed through Christ’s birth and resurrection, it must also be consciously built by men and women in their daily lives.
Peace Begins in the Human Heart
The Pope observes that the world today is wounded by conflicts, violent hostilities, and growing nationalism that often tramples upon the rights of the weak. Yet, he warns, peace is defeated long before battlefields are formed.
“Peace is defeated in the human heart,” he writes, “when we give in to selfishness and greed and allow partisan interests to prevail over the common good.”
Quoting Saint Augustine, the Pope recalls that true knowledge of another person is rooted in love and friendship: “No one can be known except through friendship.” Depersonalizing others, he explains, is the first step toward conflict, while knowing and loving others is already a foretaste of peace.
A Gift from Above, A Task on Earth
Pope Leo reflects on what he calls the “vertical” and “horizontal” dimensions of peace.
Peace is first a gift from God, announced by the angels at Christ’s birth in Bethlehem and offered by the Risen Lord to His disciples. It is a peace marked by the wounds of the Cross — born from a heart that loves even amid suffering.
At the same time, peace is a daily commitment. It begins in families, schools, workplaces, and communities. It means teaching children respect, overcoming personal pride, listening deeply, and refusing violence in thought, word, and action.
Prayer, the Pope says, is an “unarmed force” that disarms the ego and opens the heart to sincerity and generosity. Even in the face of what he calls a “globalization of powerlessness,” believers can respond through prayer and personal transformation.
The Heart: The True Battlefield
“Our heart is the most important battlefield,” Pope Leo writes. It is there that humanity must achieve a “bloodless but necessary victory” over impulses of domination and hatred.
“Only peaceful hearts can build a world of peace,” he affirms.
He calls for a culture of reconciliation and for creating spaces of non-violence where suspicion can give way to encounter and dialogue. At the same time, he reminds political leaders and the international community of their responsibility to pursue mediation and diplomacy for the sake of justice and lasting peace.
Quoting Saint Augustine once more, the Pope concludes with a prayer:
“O Lord God, grant your peace to us… the peace of rest, the peace of the Sabbath which has no evening.”
A Message Relevant to the Northeast
For the Northeast of India — a region marked by ethnic diversity, historical tensions, and ongoing efforts toward reconciliation — the Pope’s message carries particular resonance.
Peace in this region cannot be built merely through agreements or negotiations; it must be nurtured in hearts, families, and communities. In places where identity and belonging are deeply cherished, the call to overcome suspicion and foster dialogue becomes especially urgent.
Pope Leo XIV’s reminder is clear: peace begins within. When hearts are healed of pride, fear, and division, communities can move toward justice and lasting harmony.
In a land of many peoples, cultures, and faith traditions, only peaceful hearts can truly build a future of just and enduring peace.