‘No More War’ – Pope Leo Urges Peace In Ukraine, Gaza
Newly elected leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV, has called for peace and warned against a third world war.
In his first Sunday address before tens of thousands in St Peter’s Square, the pope used the moment to speak directly to global leaders and citizens alike, urging an end to violence and the pursuit of lasting peace.
“Dear brothers and sisters, happy Sunday!”
“In today’s dramatic scenario of a third world war… as repeatedly stated by Pope Francis, I also address the powerful of the world, repeating the ever-timely appeal: No more war!” he declared from the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica, following a brief prayer to the Virgin Mary.
Just days into his papacy, Pope Leo has made it clear he intends to confront the most pressing crises head-on.
He called for a “genuine, just and lasting peace” in Ukraine and demanded a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war.
“Humanitarian aid must be provided to the exhausted civilian population, and all the hostages must be freed,” he added.
The first-ever American pope, 69-year-old Robert Francis Prevost, originally from Chicago, also holds Peruvian citizenship and has spent much of his life serving as a missionary in Latin America.
His election on Thursday by a conclave of cardinals marked a historic shift, drawing faithful from across the globe to Rome for his first public appearances.
Leo is the first pontiff from the Augustinian order, and he used his platform to highlight the Church’s need for those pursuing vocations.
“The Church has great need” of those called to the priesthood and religious life,” he said.
Earlier, Pope Leo celebrated Mass in the Vatican Grottoes near the tomb of St Peter. In his homily, he spoke of humility and openness
“To know how to listen so as not to judge, not to close doors thinking that we have all the truth and nobody else can tell us anything,” he said.
The new pope has said he will be guided by the legacy of Pope Francis, who died last month at 88.
On Saturday, Leo visited Francis’s tomb in Rome’s Santa Maria Maggiore basilica and described his predecessor’s example as one of “complete dedication to service and sober simplicity of life.”
Leo’s more understated style, shaped by decades in the field, contrasts with Francis’s sometimes confrontational approach. Still, Church leaders believe his early gestures signal a commitment to continuity and compassion.
“Even the reaction of the people, so beautiful and enthusiastic, says a lot,” Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem told AFP.
Pope Leo’s schedule in the coming days includes a formal presentation to international media and meetings with global diplomats.
He will celebrate the inaugural mass of his pontificate at St Peter’s on May 18, 2025.
‘No More War’ – Pope Leo Urges Peace In Ukraine, Gaza is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
