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Pope Commemorates 9/11 Attacks with Prayers for Peace and for Those Who Died
Leo XIV urged prayer for peace and said hatred and violence grow where poverty and injustice persist.
On Sunday, Pope Leo XIV marked the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on his home country, calling for renewed peace commitment during his traditional noon blessing from St. Peter's Square.
Nearly 3,000 people died in coordinated terror attacks on New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania 25 years ago; the Chicago-born pontiff was an Augustinian leader based in Rome when the attacks occurred.
Addressing the faithful, Leo invited everyone to pray that the Lord will bestow peace upon the world, noting that "the memory of the tragic events of 25 years ago pushes us to renew our commitment to peace."
The Pope stated that violence witnessed in the United States is a "tragic expression of a series of problems," warning that hatred grows as people face extreme poverty and injustice.
Switching to Italian, the leader emphasized that tragic events drive commitment to "peace, first and foremost with prayer," entrusting the effort to the intercession of the Virgin Mary.
"At a time when conflict and violence afflict so many of our brothers and sisters, I invite everyone to pray for you to grant your gift of peace to the world," he said.