Pope Leo XIV appeals for ‘no more war’ in his first Sunday message
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Pope Leo says the world is living through “the dramatic scenario of a Third World War being fought piecemeal”.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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VATICAN CITY – Pope Leo XIV appealed to the world’s major powers on May 11 for “no more war” in his first Sunday message to crowds at St Peter’s Square since his election as pontiff.
“Dear brothers and sisters, happy Sunday!” proclaimed the first pontiff from the United States
The Chicago-born Pope did not shy from world events in his public address following a prayer to the Virgin Mary, as he cited the recent 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, a conflict that killed 60 million people.
“In today’s dramatic scenario of a Third World War being fought piecemiel, as repeatedly stated by Pope Francis, I also address the powerful of the world, repeating the ever-timely appeal: No more war!” Pope Leo urged from the balcony.
As had his predecessor Pope Francis, he appealed for a “genuine, just and lasting peace” in Ukraine and said he was “deeply saddened” by events in the Gaza Strip, calling for 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 said.
Pope Leo also welcomed the recent ceasefire between India and Pakistan
The new Pope said he carries in his heart the “suffering of the beloved people of Ukraine”. He appealed for negotiations to reach an “authentic, just and lasting peace”.
He also said he was “profoundly saddened” by the war in Gaza
Pope 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!”
Unifying figure
Pope Leo’s appearance drew tens of thousands of people anxious for a closer look at the modest pontiff, born Robert Francis Prevost, who before becoming pontiff spent much of his life as a missionary in Peru.
Cardinals chose Pope Leo as the 267th pope at a secret conclave on May 8, praying he could heal rifts within the Church, renew faith among the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics and address a host of modern-day challenges weighing on the more than 2,000-year-old institution.
Addressing cardinals on May 10, the 69-year-old Pope Leo called himself a “humble servant of God... and nothing more than this”, and an “unworthy successor” to St Peter, according to a transcript released by the Vatican.
Pilgrims and worshippers packed St Peter’s Square for his appearance on May 11, bearing flags and Catholic symbols from across the globe. Priests and nuns mingled with the crowds, with many groups of young people, some who had played guitars or sang songs while waiting.
Hopes are high that Pope Leo can be a unifying figure within the fractured Church, and the complicated geopolitical situation.
In the crowd was Ms Alejandrina Espinosa, 59, from the Quechua population of Peru, who confessed she cried when she heard of the new Pope who spent more than 20 years in missions in Peru
“He stole our hearts because he awakened Christianity. The Pope turned his work towards the forgotten, desolate people,” Ms Espinosa said. “I hope that this Pope can unite all religions to save the world because of a humanitarian crisis. We are killing each other.”
Before his appearance on May 11, Pope Leo celebrated mass at the altar near the tomb of St Peter, deep beneath the basilica within the Vatican Grottoes, the Vatican said.
Tribute to Francis
In the first clues of the direction of his pontificate, Pope Leo said on May 10 he would be driven by the legacy of his predecessor
Leo made an unannounced visit to pray before Francis’s simple marble tomb
Cardinals describe Pope Leo as in the mould of Pope Francis, with a commitment to the poor and disadvantaged, and a focus on Catholics in far-flung areas away from Rome.
As an Augustinian and former missionary, he also believes the Church should be committed to “the missionary conversion of the entire Christian community”.
The new Pope’s personal style is seen to be less direct than the sometimes impulsive Francis, a progressive who shook up the Church and often ruffled feathers within the Roman Curia, or government of the Holy See, during his 12-year papacy.
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, described Pope Leo as “a person who immediately inspires a lot of confidence, a mild man who knows how to listen”.
“We are at the beginning of his pontificate, but already the first steps give us great courage and comfort. Even the reaction of the people, so beautiful and enthusiastic, says a lot,” Cardinal Pizzaballa told the Corriere della Sera daily on May 11.
Busy calendar
Looking ahead, the Pope has a packed calendar of meetings and audiences, starting on May 12 when he will be officially presented to the international media who came to Rome to cover his election.
He plans to meet diplomats to the Vatican on May 16 and then on May 18 will preside over the inaugural mass at St Peter’s to mark the beginning of his pontificate.
The following week is marked by Pope Leo’s first general audience on May 21 – a normally weekly event by the Pope that includes readings from Scripture and a homily for the public.
He also plans to meet with members of the Roman Curia and Vatican officials on May 24.
In one of his first decisions, Pope Leo has already said the heads of dicasteries, or Vatican departments, will keep their positions for now. Those roles had been suspended between Pope Francis’s death and the new Pope’s election.
Pope Francis named Pope Leo a cardinal in 2023 after choosing him to lead the powerful Dicastery of Bishops, which advises the pontiff on bishop appointments.
He spent approximately two decades in Peru on missions, taking Peruvian citizenship and learning Spanish – which he used during his first address on May 8 from St Peter’s Basilica. REUTERS, AFP
