Ciudad del Vaticano: Pope Leo XIV appealed to the world’s main powers for “No More War” in his first Sunday message to the crowds in the Plaza de San Pedro from his choice as a pontiff.
The new Pope, chosen on May 8, asked for an “authentic and lasting peace” in Ukraine, a high fire in Gaza and the release of all Israeli prisoners.
Speaking in Italian fluid, Leo also welcomed the recent Alto the fragile fire between India and Pakistan, negotiated overnight and said he was praying to God to give the world the “miracle of peace.” “No more war!” The Pope said, repeating a frequent call from the late Pope Francis and pointing out the recent 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, in which some 60 million people killed.
Leo said that today’s world was living “the dramatic scenario of a third World War that was fought in the form of fragmentation,” again repeating a phrase coined by Pope Francis.
Tens of thousands of people in the Plaza de San Pedro and in Via della Coniliazione, which led the Vatican to applaud the call to peace in what was a cheerful occasion despite Leo’s solemn message.
The new pontiff welcomes the high fire ‘fragile’ between India and Pakistan
The new Pope said he carries in his heart the “suffering of the beloved people of Ukraine.” Hours after the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, proposed direct conversations with Ukraine with the aim of ending the bloody three -year war, Leo asked for negotiations to reach an “authentic, fair and lasting peace.”
The Pope also said that he was “deeply sad” for the war in Gaza, asking for a high immediate fire, humanitarian aid and the liberation of the remaining hostages held by Hamas.
Leo said he was happy to listen to the recent Alto El Fuego de India-Pakistan and hoped that negotiations will lead to a lasting agreement between neighbors with nuclear weapons. He added: “But there are many other conflicts in the world!”
Music bands
Leo, former Cardinal Robert Prevost, is the first pontiff born in the United States and was an unknown relative on the world stage before his choice. He previously served for decades as a missionary in Peru before becoming for the first time in the cardinal to assume a role of Senior Vatican two years ago.
Leo’s first direction coincided with a pilgrimage previously planned to Rome by bands around the world. Minutes before the Pope headed to the crowd, the bands marched through the wide boulevard that led the Vatican playing songs like Ymca by The Village People, the theme of the film Rocky and the music of John Philip Sousa, who composed the March Classic “Stars and Stripes Forever”.
The Peruvian Gladys Ruiz, who lives in Rome, was among the crowd in the square, estimated at more than 100,000 by the Italian authorities. Calling Leo a “Peruvian Pope” Ruiz said his choice is “a great honor for us.” Leo has double citizenship, since he has won Peruvian citizenship in 2015.
They were also present Dennis Gilligan and his wife Maureen de Boston, Massachusetts, visiting Rome for their anniversary. He said he had transmitted the opportunity to see Pope John Paul II when he visited Boston in 1979.
“I regretted it all my life,” he said. “This was very moving.” The crowd was also entertaining by bands of Italy, Mexico and other parts of Latin America that came to Rome for the current Catholic year. In all his appearances since his election, Leo has not mentioned the country of his birth, angry some conservative commentators of the United States.
Posted in Dawn, May 12, 2025
