lay

April 5 (UPI) — Pope Leo XIV on Sunday beseeched world leaders to “lay down” the weapons of war and use “dialogue” rather than force as the means to bring about peace.

In the annual Urbi et Orbi address delivered by the presiding Catholic pontiff each Easter Sunday in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, Leo said the holy day can provide a light from Christ allowing hearts “to be transformed by his immense love for us.

“Let those who have weapons lay them down. Let those who have the power to unleash wars choose peace. Not a peace imposed by force, but through dialogue. Not with the desire to dominate others, but to encounter them,” Leo said in his first Easter address as pontiff.

An estimated 50,000 people jammed the Roman square to hear Leo’s Urbi et Orbi Easter Mass homily, or “To the City and the World,” in which he warned against allowing “indifference” to blunt the impact of war’s devastation as conflicts raged in Iran, Lebanon, Gaza, Ukraine and elsewhere in the world.

“We are growing accustomed to violence, resigning ourselves to it, and becoming indifferent,” he said. “Indifferent to the deaths of thousands of people. Indifferent to the repercussions of hatred and division that conflicts sow. Indifferent to the economic and social consequences they produce, which we all feel.”

Instead, he declared, “We cannot continue to be indifferent! And we cannot resign ourselves to evil!”

Leo, the first American pope, has been a frequent critic of U.S. President Donald Trump, but did not specifically mention him or any other leader or country during the Easter homily. Rather, he anti-war remarks were universal.

“On this day of celebration, let us abandon every desire for conflict, domination, and power, and implore the Lord to grant his peace to a world ravaged by wars and marked by a hatred and indifference that make us feel powerless in the face of evil,” Leo urged.

In his time as pope, Leo has established a track record of issuing unambiguous calls for peace.

Last month, for instance, he voiced a direct demand for an end to the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran as the conflict entered its third week.

“On behalf of the Christians of the Middle East, and of all women and men of good will, I appeal to those responsible for this conflict: Cease fire!,” the pope said during the Angelus in St. Peter’s Square on March 15.

Providing extra comfort for their economy passengers, a major airline that flies from the UK to more than 340 destinations, is set to launch seats that turn into a ‘flat bed’

A major airline flying to popular holiday destinations from the UK is introducing economy seats that transform into a ‘flat bed’.

United Airlines, which flies from the UK to more than 340 destinations worldwide, will launch a new dedicated row of three economy seats that can transform into a “lie-flat mattress-like space”. It will give passengers more room on long-haul flights while flying in economy.

The new seats will be individually adjustable with leg rests that fold up to a 90-degree angle, so travellers can either stretch out while watching a movie or use it as a bed to catch a restful night’s sleep. Passengers will be treated to a “custom-fitted mattress pad, specially sized blankets, extra pillows” as the seats adjust into a flat bed after takeoff.

READ MORE: Airline plunges into liquidation after 19 years with no more flightsREAD MORE: ‘I travelled world for 6 years but cold little UK beach town hits different’

Children in the dedicated row will also receive a plush toy and a family travel kit as part of the additional amenities. The airline noted that the launch of the ‘United Relax Row’ will be ideal for families with young children, couples and solo travellers who would like more space.

After United Airlines shared the news on X, formerly Twitter, it was met with enthusiasm from travellers. One commented: “This is brilliant and I bet everyone is going to copy it.”

“Much needed. United is innovating faster than anyone”, a second said. A third added: “This is a brilliant and thoughtful idea to make customers feel more comfortable. Well done!”

“Gamechanger for travelling with small kids”, another traveller noted. “Brilliant, you have hooked me for many years but with this may be I am now double hooked. This is super helpful especially on those night European routes,” one more said.

Once launched, the initiative will be a first for a North American airline offering this type of seat and comfort for economy passengers. United Airlines flies from the UK to popular holiday destinations such as New York, LA, Chicago and Orlando.

The United Relax Row is expected to launch in 2027, with plans to offer the extra space on more than 200 of its Boeing 787 and 777 widebody aircraft by 2030. There will be up to 12 United Relax Row sections on each plane, located between United Economy and United Premium Plus.

United’s Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, Andrew Nocella, said: “As a leading premium airline, we’re committed to delivering new, industry-leading experiences for all of our customers – and the United Relax Row is the perfect example of that. Customers travelling in United Economy on long-haul flights deserve an option for more space and comfort, and this is one way we can deliver that for them.

“United is the only North American airline offering a product like the United Relax Row and is one of the many reasons why we’re continuing to win brand loyal customers.”

For more information or to check flights with United Airlines, you can visit their website.

Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com

IN A new twist in the Beckham family feud, it has been revealed how Brooklyn “lay by an LA pool just metres from dad David’s hotel room”, as they avoided seeing each other in the US.

The Sun were first to reveal how the estranged father and son were staying near to each other in America earlier this week.

We revealed on Monday, how David, 51, was in LA to shoot a commercial, after spending time with middle son Romeo, 23, skiing in Canada.

On Sunday night he checked into the Beverly Hills Hotel, which wasn’t far from where son Brooklyn, 27, and his wife Nicola, 31, were spotted at Sir Elton John’s Aids Foundation Oscars viewing party.

But in a new twist that has just emerged, it has been revealed that both David and Brooklyn were “just metres from each other” on two occasions at the five-star hotel.

It came when Brooklyn was spotted at his dad’s five-star hotel on Monday morning for breakfast after Elton’s Oscars party, according to the Daily Mail.

Read More on Beckham Feud

NIC’S PICS

Nicola Peltz goes topless for racy mirror snap ahead of Brooklyn’s birthday

THE LOVE OF GORD

Gordon Ramsay enjoys kiss from wife after wading into Becks’ Brooklyn feud

David, had reportedly only just left the hotel to film five miles away in Santa Monica to record an advertisement for Lays crisps.

Insiders then said, Brooklyn stayed at the hotel all day to enjoy a “chill day by the pool“, and was seen sunbathing at around 3pm. close to where his dad’s room was.

Just three hours later David arrived for dinner at the hotel’s famous Polo Lounge restaurant at 6pm.

This means there were two occasion where the estranged father and son could have seen each other.

A source told the Mail: “David was totally in the dark about where Brooklyn was and had no idea that he had just missed him, not just once, but twice.

“Brooklyn was with Elton when David arrived to check in on Sunday night, didn’t get there before David left on Monday morning and then had gone before he arrived back.

“There is absolutely no contact between Brooklyn and his parents and there hasn’t been for some time, it is desperately sad but that is how Brooklyn has chosen to live his life with Nicola.

“Brooklyn also probably had no idea that his father was staying in a room just yards away from where they were having their breakfast.”

The insider added: “David looked like he was having a great time when he was at dinner, you wonder if that would have been different if he had known he had missed his son.”

Meanwhile, a source told The Sun earlier this week: “David was in Los Angeles for a new ad campaign, but given Brooklyn’s decision to cut off his family, there was no meeting between them.

“David had just come back from a skiing trip with Romeo and friends in Canada when he flew to Los Angeles for work.

“Brooklyn would have just been miles away from him in the house he shares with Nicola.”

The Sun first revealed last year how Brooklyn had cut off his family.

In October, insiders confirmed that the eldest Beckham boy had no interest in making amends with his family.

By January, he was communicating with them through lawyers.

Days later, Brooklyn released a bombshell statement confirming the story.

He went on to make allegations against his family, including claiming fashion designer Victoria, 51, had “hijacked” his first dance with Nicola at their wedding in 2022.

As well as cutting off his famous parents, Brooklyn is no longer in contact with his brothers Romeo and Cruz, 21, and sister Harper, 14, after blocking them on social media.