On Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026, religious leaders and government officials worldwide issued coordinated appeals for peace, with humanitarian conditions in conflict-affected Middle Eastern regions drawing particular attention. Pope Leo XIV celebrated his first Easter Mass as pontiff in St. Peter’s Square, urging tens of thousands of worshippers to lay down arms and seek peace through dialogue. The first U.S.-born pope emphasized Easter’s message of hope and transformation, imploring those with the power to unleash wars to “choose peace.” Addressing some 50,000 faithful from an open-air altar in St. Peter’s Square, Leo acknowledged a global sense of indifference to the deaths of thousands and the consequences of hatred and division sown by conflicts. He also announced a prayer vigil for peace to be held on April 11. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Sarah Mullally, delivered her first Easter sermon as leader of the Church of England at Canterbury Cathedral, calling for “an end to the violence and destruction” in the Middle East and the Gulf. She prayed with renewed urgency for all people of the region to receive the peace, justice and freedom they long for. Her Easter sermon came just short of a fortnight after her installation as the first female Archbishop of Canterbury. Meanwhile, Christian communities in Gaza and Lebanon marked the holiday amid airstrikes and displacement. In Gaza, Easter celebrations were significantly curtailed, with believers holding simplified services amid severe shortages and displacement. At the Holy Family Church in Gaza City, the small Catholic community gathered for a traditional Easter Mass — the first Easter since a ceasefire. Many families were unable to obtain basic holiday food items such as eggs and meat due to scarcity and high prices. Some worshippers said they performed prayers but refused to fully celebrate out of mourning for those killed in the conflict. In Jerusalem and the West Bank, celebrations were also subdued, with the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem limiting festive events to worship services only as a sign of respect for human suffering in the Holy Land. United Nations agencies have warned that conflict-related disruptions to medical and food aid corridors are worsening civilian survival conditions. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that deadly shelling continues daily, and that agreed deliveries of food, medicine, medical supplies and shelter materials to Gaza — home to approximately 2.4 million Palestinians — are being blocked. Humanitarian access remains severely limited, with more than half of Gaza inaccessible due to the presence of forces. According to UN figures, only around 42 percent of health facilities are operational, and most only partially. Israeli restrictions at crossings hinder the delivery of equipment and materials needed to restore the health system, and international humanitarian workers are prevented from entering Gaza. At the same time, international efforts to deliver aid continue. The World Health Organization facilitated the delivery of 106 metric tons of life-saving nutrition supplies to Gaza — the first shipment via a newly established maritime humanitarian corridor operating under a UN Security Council resolution. This initiative, complementing existing humanitarian routes, aims to reduce delivery timelines and mitigate operational bottlenecks. The International Committee of the Red Cross has repeatedly called on all parties to uphold international humanitarian law and protect civilians, religious sites, hospitals, medical personnel and civilian infrastructure. The ICRC continues to engage with parties to conflicts to promote respect for international humanitarian law, working with national Red Cross societies such as the Lebanese Red Cross to support life-saving services including emergency medical care. EU diplomatic representatives have affirmed continued efforts to establish humanitarian corridors ensuring aid reaches affected communities. The European Union recently struck a deal to expand humanitarian access to Gaza, which is expected to see more aid and food trucks entering and the opening of additional crossing points, along with repair of vital infrastructure and protection of aid workers. In Jerusalem’s Old City, Easter was quieter than in previous years, with fewer pilgrims and subdued celebrations due to the shadow of ongoing conflict. Churches held services within their walls, and many congregations included special prayers for peace. As of press time, reports indicate that on Easter Sunday itself, there were several hours of relative calm in some areas, allowing limited aid deliveries to several besieged communities.