Pope Leo XIV, in his first Sunday blessing at the Vatican, made a heartfelt appeal to world leaders for an end to war.
Addressing thousands in St Peter’s Square, he called for a "lasting peace" in the Ukraine conflict, a ceasefire in Gaza, and praised a recent agreement between India and Pakistan reached on Saturday.
During the address, he also led the faithful in the Regina Caeli prayer, paying tribute to the Virgin Mary. The day before, the newly elected pope visited a shrine outside Rome and offered prayers at the tomb of his predecessor, Pope Francis, inside the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.
His formal inauguration is scheduled for 18 May in St Peter’s Square, where he will celebrate Mass and deliver a homily attended by numerous world leaders and dignitaries.
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Pope Leo was elected on Thursday after a two-day conclave. Since then, he has led his first Mass as pope in the Sistine Chapel and held a meeting with cardinals, where he described himself as an "unworthy choice" for the papacy and pledged to uphold the "precious legacy" of his predecessor.
He emphasized the importance of missionary outreach, dialogue, and compassion for society’s marginalized, saying the Church must care for "the least and the rejected." Pope Leo explained his chosen name was inspired by a 19th-century pope recognized for championing social justice.
The pontiff also noted that modern developments, including artificial intelligence, make the Church's mission to defend human dignity and justice more vital than ever. He is expected to address the media on Monday ahead of his inauguration.
At 69, Pope Leo becomes the 267th leader of the Catholic Church and its first American pontiff. Born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago, he served for years as a missionary in Peru, where he also gained citizenship and later became an archbishop.
Although American-born, the Vatican considers him the second pope from the Americas, following Pope Francis of Argentina. Seen as a moderate, Pope Leo is viewed as a figure of "continuity" and "unity" after the recent passing of Francis. He shares many of his predecessor’s views on migrants, poverty, and environmental issues.
In his first public message, Pope Leo told the crowd he hoped "to walk together with you as a united Church searching all together for peace and justice."
Source: BBC