Pope Leo XIV requires peace in Ukraine and Gaza, saying ‘By no means once more struggle’ : NPR

[ad_1] <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1317x878+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F15%2Fe0%2Fe8a2c88a4aeab5863eeb32ae8d76%2Fap25131373562653.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1317x878+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F15%2Fe0%2Fe8a2c88a4aeab5863eeb32ae8d76%2Fap25131373562653.jpg" class="img" alt="Pope Leo XIV delivers his blessing from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica for his first Sunday blessing after his election, in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Sunday, May 11, 2025." fetchpriority="high"/> Pope Leo XIV delivers his blessing from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica for his first Sunday blessing after his election, in St. Peter's Sq. on the Vatican, Sunday, Might 11, 2025. Andrew Medichini/AP conceal caption

toggle caption

Andrew Medichini/AP VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV referred to as for a simply and lasting peace in Ukraine and a right away ceasefire in Gaza with the discharge of hostages and supply of humanitarian support in his first Sunday midday blessing as pontiff.

"I too handle the world's nice powers by repeating the ever-present name 'by no means once more struggle,'" Leo stated from the loggia of St. Peter's Basilica.

It was the primary time that Leo had returned to the loggia since he first appeared to the world on Thursday night following his outstanding election as pope, the primary from the US. Then too he delivered a message of peace.

Leo was choosing up the papal custom of providing a blessing at midday, however with a number of twists. Whereas his predecessors delivered the greeting from the studio window of the Apostolic Palace, off to the facet of the piazza, Leo went to the very middle of the sq. and the guts of the basilica.

He additionally provided a novelty by singing the Regina Caeli prayer, a Latin prayer stated throughout the Easter season that previous popes would normally simply recite.

He wore the straightforward white cassock of the papacy — not the formal crimson cape he wore on Thursday evening — and had reverted again to carrying his silver pectoral cross. He had worn a extra ornate one which incorporates the relics of St. Augustine and his mom, St. Monica, on Thursday evening that had been given to him by his Augustinian spiritual order.

Leo quoted Pope Francis in denouncing the variety of conflicts ravaging the globe as we speak, saying it was a "third world struggle in items."

"I carry in my coronary heart the sufferings of the beloved Ukrainian folks," he stated. "Let every little thing doable be completed to realize real, simply and lasting peace as quickly as doable."

He referred to as for the discharge of struggle prisoners and the return of Ukrainian kids to their households, and welcomed the ceasefire between India and Pakistan.

He additionally referred to as for a right away ceasefire in Gaza, and for humanitarian aid to be offered to the "exhausted civilian inhabitants and all hostages be freed."

Leo additionally famous that Sunday was Mom's Day in lots of nations and wished all moms, "together with these in heaven" a Completely happy Mom's Day.

The group, crammed with marching bands on the town for a particular Jubilee weekend, erupted in cheers and music because the bells of St. Peter's Basilica tolled. Italian authorities estimated some 100,000 folks have been within the sq..

Earlier Sunday, Leo celebrated a non-public Mass close to the tomb of St. Peter with head of his Augustinian order, the Rev. Alejandro Ethical Anton. The Mass occurred within the grottoes beneath St. Peter's, the standard burial place of St. Peter, the apostle who is taken into account the be the primary pope.