WASHINGTON D.C. – Pope Leo XIV’s first book, “Peace Be With You!”, the English translation of “E pace sia!”, went on sale today in the United States and other English-speaking countries, published by HarperCollins.
The volume, originally released in Italian by the Vatican’s Libreria Editrice Vaticana in August 2025, presents a collection of the Pope’s early addresses and reflections on peace, according to a statement released by the Vatican publishing house. The English edition was acquired by HarperOne, an imprint of HarperCollins, in a deal brokered by Lorenzo Fazzini and Francesca Angeletti of the Libreria Editrice Vaticana, with Gabriella Page-Fort serving as the editor at HarperOne.
In an introduction to the book, previously unpublished in English, Pope Leo XIV frames peace as both a divine gift and a human responsibility. He writes that the world is “wounded by too many conflicts and struck by cruel hostilities,” and that nationalism “tramples the rights of the weak.” The Pope argues that peace is first defeated “in the human heart when we give in to selfishness and greed” and when “partisan interests prevail instead of looking to the common good.”
Drawing on the writings of Saint Augustine, Pope Leo XIV emphasizes the importance of recognizing the dignity of others, stating that “depersonalizing others is the first step towards every war.” He posits that “knowing others is a foretaste of peace,” but that knowing requires love. He further elaborates on the dual nature of peace, describing it as both a “gift from above” and a responsibility for every individual.
The Pope connects peace to the birth of Jesus Christ, describing it as a gift offered to humanity and exemplified by the “wounded peace” of the resurrected Christ, marked by the wounds of the crucifixion. He stresses that peace is not merely the absence of conflict, but an active commitment to respect, reconciliation, and non-violence in daily life – from interactions within families to broader societal structures.
Pope Leo XIV acknowledges the feeling of powerlessness in the face of global conflicts, but suggests that prayer is a “disarmed force” that seeks the common good. He asserts that the most critical battleground is within the human heart, where individuals must overcome impulses of violence and domination. He calls for a “culture of reconciliation,” advocating for the creation of “nonviolent laboratories” where distrust can be transformed into opportunities for encounter.
The Pope similarly highlights the role of politics and the international community in mediating conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy. He concludes with a prayer adapted from Saint Augustine, asking for “peace, the peace of rest, the peace of the Sabbath, the peace without sunset,” for the world and especially for those who suffer most.
The Vatican has not yet announced any public events to mark the release of the English edition of “Peace Be With You!”.
