Pope Leo XIV asked God “to awaken human consciences with His gifts, to turn them away from injustice, violence, and war” during the general audience held Wednesday in St. Peter’s Square before thousands of faithful.

The American pontiff made this request while recalling that exactly 40 years ago, Saint John Paul II published the encyclical Dominum et Vivificantem, in which he emphasized that the Holy Spirit is the “Light of hearts” and enables one to “distinguish good from evil.”

With that in mind, the Pope prayed that God “awaken human consciences with His gifts, lead them away from injustice, violence, and war, and renew the face of the earth.”

Prior to the catechesis of the general audience, the Pope greeted the leader of the Armenian Church, Aram I, who stood beside him, and invited everyone to “pray for peace in Lebanon and the Middle East, which have once again returned to violence and war.”

“This fraternal visit represents an important occasion to strengthen the bonds of unity that already exist between us as we draw closer to full communion between our Churches,” Leo XIV added, addressing the head of the Armenian Church.