Pope Leo XIV calls for peace and harmony among peoples on this Sunday of elections in Brazil
The Pope Leo XIV appealed for peace and harmony among peoples on this Sunday (4), a day when millions of Brazilians participate in the first round of the 2026 Elections. The statement took place during a message related to Saint Francis of Assisi.
Pope Leo XIV made an appeal for peace and harmony among peoples on Sunday, when millions of Brazilians participated in the first round of the 2026 elections. The demonstration took place during a message related to St. Francis of Assisi.
The publication was also made in Portuguese and recalled the 800th anniversary of the death of San Francisco. In addressing the saint’s trajectory, Leo XIV used the word “worker” to describe the work he did for the Church.
The demonstration gained repercussions in Brazil because it took place on the day of the presidential election. However, there is no reference in the pontiff’s message to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (PT), a candidate for re-election, or to any other Brazilian candidate.
Pope calls for peace
In addition to recalling Saint Francis of Assisi, Leo XIV took advantage of this Sunday’s message to defend the construction of peace.
The Pontiff called for perseverance in the search for peace and advocated the building of concord among the different peoples.
The event is part of the celebrations of the Franciscan Jubilee Year and has as reference the trajectory of Saint Francis of Assisi.
The word “worker” has repercussions in Brazil
One of the points that drew attention in the Portuguese publication was the use of the word “worker”.
The term was used by the pope exclusively in reference to St. Francis of Assisi and the saint’s work in what the pontiff described as the “wine of the Lord.”
The coincidence caught attention in Brazil because Lula, who is vying for re-election on Sunday, began his public career as a metalworker and union leader at ABC Paulista.
Despite the association made from the Brazilian political context, the official message of Leo XIV does not mention Lula, the federal government, candidates or the 2026 elections.
Brazil has first round this Sunday
The Pope’s message comes as Brazilians go to the polls to choose their representatives.
On Sunday, voters vote for federal deputy, state or district deputy, senator, governor and president of the Republic.
More than 158 million Brazilians are eligible to participate in the 2026 elections.
Voting began at 8 a.m. and continues until 5 p.m., considering the time of Brasilia. After the closure of the electoral sections, the disclosure of the count by Justiça Eleitoral begins.
If no presidential candidate wins more than half of the valid votes on Sunday, the two most voted candidates advance to the second round.
While Brazil lives the day of voting, the message of Leo XIV this Sunday keeps as a focus St. Francis of Assisi and an international appeal for peace and coexistence among peoples.
