“Peace be with you all! […] It is the peace of the risen Christ. A peace that is unarmed and disarming, humble and persevering. A peace that comes from God, the God who loves us all, unconditionally”. With these words Pope Leo XIV greeted the people and imparted his first “Urbi et Orbi” Apostolic Blessing, on the evening of 8 May 2025, appearing at the external Loggia of Blessings of St Peter’s Basilica.

Peace has undoubtedly been Pope Leo’s foremost concern and the guiding thread that has run throughout his first year of pontificate.

At a time when conflicts and violence are increasing across the world, and when too many people choose to look away from those who suffer, he has consistently appealed for peace, inviting us to bear concrete witness to it: by supporting those in need, by welcoming those forced to flee their homes, and by building bridges through dialogue and encounter, “joining together as one people, always at peace”.

Below, we have selected four defining moments of Pope Leo XIV’s first year of pontificate

Pope Leo XIV’s commitment to migrants and refugees

As Pope Francis did before him, Pope Leo XIV has reaffirmed the Church’s strong commitment towards migrants and refugees.

As part of the Jubilee of Migrants, the Church celebrated the 111th World Day of Migrants and Refugees (WDMR), with the theme: Migrants, Missionaries of Hope.

In a world marked by war, violence and injustice, the Pope recalled the need to nurture a shared desire for peace and respect for the dignity of all. In this context, migrants, refugees and displaced persons emerge as privileged witnesses of hope, embodying it each day “through their resilience and trust in God, as they face adversity while seeking a future in which they glimpse that integral human development and happiness are possible.”

At the same time, the Pope emphasised that communities which welcome migrants can themselves become witnesses of hope by “recognising migrants as brothers and sisters, part of a family in which they can express their talents and participate fully in community life.”

Pope Leo XIV’s address to the Society of Jesus

During the gathering of the Major Superiors of the Society of Jesus in October 2025, Pope Leo XIV delivered a powerful and deeply consoling address, offering Jesuits and their collaborators around the world a renewed sense of purpose.

Referring to the Universal Apostolic Preferences, he recalled that the Society is called “to walk with the poor, the outcasts of the world and those whose dignity has been violated.” True discipleship, he insisted, requires both the denunciation of injustice and the proposal of new models rooted in solidarity and the common good.

These words resonate strongly with the daily experience of JRS in its service to forcibly displaced people. The Holy Father affirmed that the institutions of the Society, including universities, social centres, publications, and apostolates like JRS, can become “powerful channels to promote systemic change.” His message speaks to the very heart of our mission: accompanying refugees and displaced communities, sharing in their resilience and hope, and being transformed together through encounter.

Pope Leo XIV’s first Apostolic Journey to Lebanon

Lebanon was the destination of Pope Leo XIV’s first Apostolic Journey, during which he carried a strong message of unity, dialogue and peace: “Be artisans of peace, messengers of peace, witnesses of peace!”

As a sign of this commitment to building more peaceful societies, on the final day of his journey at the Marian Shrine of Harissa in Lebanon, the Holy Father listened to a series of testimonies offering insight into the life of the Church at work in the country.

Among them was the story of Loren, who was forced to leave her home in the Philippines and found refuge in Lebanon. In Beirut, Loren was welcomed by the Arrupe Migrant Centre, a parish supported by JRS and the Jesuits. It was there that she dedicated herself to the service of those most in need, “even far from home, I have found purpose, not only in my work but also in service to others”. Today, she continues to devote part of her time to assisting the most vulnerable with JRS Lebanon.

Pope Leo XIV’s Apostolic Journey in Africa

During his first visit to Africa in April 2026, Pope Leo’s words echoed far beyond the moment. From Cameroon, he spoke against war, insisting that peace must be lived, “the world is thirsting for peace. Enough of war”.

Building peace, he made clear, demands concrete action. It requires confronting injustice, ending exclusion, and building systems rooted in dignity and participation.

The Holy Father also emphasised that peace requires a deeper commitment to accompaniment and reconciliation: walking alongside those who suffer, restoring broken relationships, and discerning together paths towards a more just and humane future.

This vision resonates deeply with our mission. For JRS, accompaniment is central: being with others while serving them, and supporting processes of reconciliation rooted in the lived reality of those who are forced to flee.