Pope Leo XIV has issued the message for the 59th World Day of Peace in 2026, entitled “Peace be with you all. Towards an unarmed and disarming peace.” This marks the first World Day of Peace message released by Pope Leo XIV since the beginning of his pontificate.
In his message, the Pope calls for a peace that is “unarmed and disarming,” underscoring that the peace of the Risen Christ is not sustained by force, but instead transforms hearts and the world through humility, perseverance, and nonviolence. Peace, he emphasizes, is not merely an end goal but a living presence and an ongoing journey. True peace comes from God; it has the power to change human hearts and to resist and overcome violence. Even in times of darkness, war, and despair, peace endures and shines forth through the witness of those who uphold it.
In response to the Holy Father’s message, President Lai Ching-te of Taiwan stated: “Any attempt to alter the status quo through force or coercion could never bring about true peace. Only mutual trust and communication grounded in respect for human rights and democratic values can create lasting peace.” President Lai further noted that Taiwan is advancing the Ten Major AI Infrastructure Projects and aims to cultivate 500,000 AI professionals by 2040. By steadily promoting trustworthy artificial intelligence and semiconductor development, Taiwan is demonstrating its commitment to strengthening international supply chains and serving as a stabilizing force for regional peace. Taiwan is also assisting micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises in leveraging AI to achieve digital and green transformations in response to the challenges posed by climate change.
President Lai reaffirmed Taiwan’s desire to work hand in hand with the Holy See, emphasizing that through concrete action, the international community can further world peace and uphold shared values centered on human rights.
The full text of President Lai’s response to Pope Leo XIV’s 2026 World Day of Peace Message is available at the following links:
https://english.president.gov.tw/News/7080#new
