The Pontiff born in the United States and Peruvian nationalized headed his first Sunday blessing in the Plaza de San Pedro, which traditionally serves as a window to the pontiffs to address issues of world interest.
The once Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost made his second appearance on the balcony of the Basilica of San Pedro since his choice on Thursday as 267 Supo Pontiff, on the occasion of the Regina Coeli prayer before thousands of faithful.
“In the dramatic current scenario of a fragmented World War, as Pope Francis has affirmed several times, I also go to the greats in the world, repeating the call always present: Never again war again!” He said after prayer.
Leo XIV, 69, already made multiple calls for peace in his first public appearance, a few hours after his choice.
Among the crowd was Sor Geneviève, the French nun who became famous in the world after breaking the protocol to collect before the coffin of the late Argentine pontiff who was his friend.
The religious welcomed with satisfaction the result of the conclave and the first message. “It is Francisco’s continuity”, He said to AFP.
Cardinals and experts come to Leo XIV in Francisco’s mold, also for his commitment to the poor and disadvantaged and to focus on areas of the Church distant to Rome.
Although at the same time they consider the first Augustinian Pope more moderate than the Argentine Jesuit.
“True peace”
“I carry in my heart the sufferings of the beloved Ukrainian people to do everything possible to achieve as soon as possible a true, fair and lasting peace,” said the Pope.
The message came shortly after the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, proposed direct negotiations with Ukraine on May 15 in Istanbul, a “positive signal” for his Ukrainian pair, Volodimir Zelenski.
The Pontiff also pointed out that he was “deeply saddened by what has happened in the Gaza Strip” and requested an “immediate cessation.”
“Let’s offer humanitarian aid to the civilian population” and “we will free all hostages,” he continued.
Israel launched an offensive in Gaza in response to the attack of the Islamist movement Hamas on October 7, 2023 on Israeli soil, which left 1,218 dead, mostly civilians, according to an AFP count based on official data.
Israeli reprisals have caused at least 52 thousand 810 dead in Gaza, most civilians, according to data from the Hamas Ministry of Health, considered reliable by the UN.
The Pope also greeted the high fire between India and Pakistan and opted for “a lasting agreement.”
In his last speech from the Plaza de San Pedro, Francisco called La Paz again, so many faithful felt relieved to hear that the new Pontiff takes up these issues.
“I liked that this line of Pope Francis’s last Easter speech follows,” said Gloria Rojas Quintana, a 26 -year -old Spanish student and a student of a doctoral of Roman law in Rome. “It has been quite surprising,” he added.
“The Church needs them”
Leo XIV assumes the leadership of a church with more than 1,400 million faithful, which appears divided and faces numerous challenges, such as the crisis of vocations, the role of women and cases of sexual aggressions.
In his prayer he called young people to devote themselves to religious life and asked the Church to offer them “credible models” to increase vocations. “The Church needs them!” He asked.
On Saturday he met with Cardinals and visited Francisco’s tomb in the Basilica of Santa María la Mayor.
He also made his first departure from Rome as a Pope to an Augustine sanctuary about 50 km from the capital: the Basilica Our Lady of the Good Council of Genazzano.
In one of his first decisions, Leo XIV ratified all the positions of the Roman curia, the Government of the Church, which ceases in his functions the Pope barely dies.
The Vatican marked the enthronement Mass in the Basilica of San Pedro on Sunday, May 18.
Papa sends special greeting to mothers
Pope Leo XIV also sent a special greeting “to the moms”, in which they are dedicated in different countries, including Italy, as well as several groups of pilgrims.
“I send a beloved greeting to all moms, with a prayer for them and for those who are already in heaven. Good party” to all, the pontiff said after the Sunday prayer of noon in San Pedro.
Mass next to the tomb of San Pedro
In addition, the pontiff officiated Mass this Sunday next to the tomb of San Pedro, located in the so -called Vatican Grutas of the Basilica of the same name, the Holy See reported.
After the Mass, the Pontiff has approached the tombs of his predecessors that are in those caves and has prayed before them.