Pope Leo XIV commemorated the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks during his traditional Sunday Angelus prayer on September 13, 2026, calling for renewed prayers for the victims and a commitment to peace amid ongoing global conflicts.

Speaking in English from the window of the Apostolic Palace overlooking St. Peter’s Square, the first American pope said, “Two days ago marked the twenty-fifth anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks in the United States of America. I renew my prayers for those who lost their lives and for those who continue to bear the wounds of that tragic day.” He added that “at a time when conflict and violence afflict so many of our brothers and sisters, I invite everyone to pray that the Lord will bestow his gift of peace upon the world.”

Switching to Italian, Pope Leo noted that the memory of the attacks “pushes us to renew our commitment to peace, above all with prayer,” entrusting that effort to the intercession of the Virgin Mary. Nearly 3,000 people died in the coordinated attacks on New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania in 2001, with hundreds more succumbing later to 9/11-related illnesses.

The Chicago-born pontiff, formerly known as Robert Prevost, was in Rome attending an assembly of his Augustinian religious order on the day of the attacks. He served as the Chicago provincial leader of the Augustinians at the time.

Several news outlets reported the pope’s remarks emphasized prayer as essential to countering violence and division worldwide. The commemoration comes as conflicts continue in multiple regions, providing context for his appeal for peace through faith and forgiveness.

Pope Leo XIV has made similar calls for peace in prior addresses, linking it to the need for reconciliation in personal and international relations.