Vatican ( Europe Brief News) – In his very first Sunday noon blessing as pope, Pope Leo XIV spoke eloquently against war insisting on an immediate end to violence in Gaza and a fair end to hostilities in Ukraine. The newly elected American pope coined his first words as pontiff, in St. Constructor’s Basilica, moving away from the trends that saw him address the crowd from the central loggia and not from the window in the Apostolic Palace.
Dressed in a simple white cassock and wearing his silver pectoral cross, Leo XIV began his address by echoing the words of his predecessor, Pope Francis, describing the current global conflicts as a “third world war in pieces.” The urgent need for diplomatic initiatives and humanitarian assistance in conflict-affected regions is what he underlined.
Appeal for Ukraine: “Never Again War”
The pope expressed deep concern for the suffering of the Ukrainian people, calling for “genuine, just, and lasting peace as soon as possible.” He called for a freeing of prisoners of war, speedy return of Ukrainian children who were wrongly torn apart from families. He also congratulated recent ceasefire between India and Pakistan announcing it as an effective example of successful conflict management.
Gaza Ceasefire and Hostage Release
Shifting his focus to the Middle East, Leo XIV begged for a cease-fire in Gaza now. “Humanitarian relief must reach the exhausted civilian population, and all hostages must be freed,” he declared. Under the growing humanitarian crisis in the region, his comments then assumed increased value.
The pope also acknowledged that Sunday was Mother’s Day in many countries, offering a heartfelt tribute to mothers everywhere—” including those in heaven.” Despite a crowd predicted at 100,000, enthusiastic applause burst forth as the words of the pope were heard.
This gesture by shifting the blessing from Basilica’s main loggia to Apostolic Palace, hypothesised Leo XIV wanted to shed more light and relate with his congregation. He went a step further by taking the assembly to sing the Regina Caeli, the Latin prayer that used to be recited during Easter, as reported by NPR.
Private Mass at St. Peter’s Tomb
In the morning, the pope attended a private Mass around St. Peter’s tomb in the company of the leader of the Augustinian order, Rev. Alejandro Moral Anton. The Mass took place in the Basilica’s crypts, where there are the remains of many former popes, including Benedict XVI. On Saturday, Leo XIV visited the tomb of Pope Francis at St. Mary Major Basilica in honour of his predecessor. Men and women now point to his origins from the age of 69 years old, when he officially assumed the right of the American missionary to succeed his predecessor after his death on April 24 His concern for peace and willingness to reinterpret traditional norms means that his papacy will strive for concord between past and future.
And as he is the first pope who is a native of the United States, his words carry weight across the globe, and his future path for the Catholic Church incites a buzz around the world.
