Pope Leo XIV appealed to the world’s major powers for ‘no more war’ in his first Sunday message to crowds in St Peter’s Square since his election as pontiff.
The new Pope, elected on May 8, called for an ‘authentic and lasting peace’ in Ukraine, a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
Speaking in fluent Italian, Leo also welcomed the recent fragile ceasefire between India and Pakistan, negotiated overnight, and said he was praying to God to grant the world the ‘miracle of peace’.
“No more war!” the Pope said, repeating a frequent call of the late Pope Francis and noting the recent 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, in which more than 60 million people were killed.
Leo said today’s world was living through ‘the dramatic scenario of a Third World War being fought piecemeal,’ again repeating a phrase coined by Francis.
Tens of thousands of people in St Peter’s Square and on the Via della Conciliazione leading to the Vatican broke into applause at the call for peace on what was a joyous occasion despite Leo’s solemn message.
The new pope said he carries in his heart the ‘suffering of the beloved people of Ukraine’.
Hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed direct talks with Ukraine aimed at ending the bloody three-year war, Leo appealed for negotiations to reach an ‘authentic, just and lasting peace’.
The Pope also said he was ‘profoundly saddened’ by the war in Gaza, calling for an immediate ceasefire, humanitarian aid and release of the remaining hostages held by Hamas.
Leo said he was glad to hear of the recent India-Pakistan ceasefire and hoped negotiations would lead to a lasting accord between the nuclear-armed neighbours.
He added: “But there are so many other conflicts in the world!”
Leo’s first Sunday address coincided with a previously planned pilgrimage to Rome by marching bands from around the world.
Minutes before the Pope addressed the crowd, bands marched up the broad boulevard leading to the Vatican playing songs such as YMCA by the Village People, the theme from the film Rocky, and music by John Philip Sousa, who composed the marching classic Stars and Stripes Forever.
Peruvian Gladys Ruiz, who lives in Rome, was among the crowd in the square, estimated at more than 100,000 by Italian authorities. Calling Leo a ‘Peruvian Pope’ Ruiz said his election is ‘a great honour for us’. Leo has dual citizenship, having gained Peruvian citizenship in 2015.
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