Urgent appeal for peace from the new Pope

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Pope Leo XIV urgently appealed for peace during his first Sunday prayer in St. Peter’s Square. “Never again war!” cried Robert Francis Prevost, elected Pope on Thursday, in his Regina Coeli prayer, which is said in the period after Easter. In front of around 100,000 faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square, the Pope urged an end to conflicts around the world. He called for prayers for “the miracle of peace.”

The new pontiff urgently pleaded for a ceasefire in the Middle East, an end to the violence, and the release of the hostages. He also urged “a just peace” in Ukraine: “I carry the suffering of the beloved Ukrainian people in my heart. May everything be done to achieve a genuine, just, and lasting peace as soon as possible.” He also called for efforts to ease relations between India and Pakistan.

“Do not be afraid”
On Sunday, the Pope called on young people not to fear vocations on the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. “Today, brothers and sisters, I have the joy of praying with you and all the people of God for vocations, especially those to the priesthood and religious life. The Church has a great need for them,” the Pope explained. “To young people I say: do not be afraid, accept the invitation of the Church and Christ the Lord,” the Pontiff said.

“Let us make our own the invitation that Pope Francis left us in his message for today: the invitation to welcome and accompany young people. Let us ask our heavenly Father that we may be for one another, each according to his station, shepherds according to his heart, capable of helping one another to walk in love and truth,” explained Leo XIV.

Pope commemorated Mother’s Day
After the introductory part, the Pontiff sang the Marian prayer Regina Coeli. After the blessing for the faithful, the various appeals and greetings to the groups present followed. The Pope also recalled Mother’s Day. “I send a loving greeting to all mothers with a prayer for them and for those who are already in heaven. I wish all mothers a happy feast day!” said Leo XIV.

At the end, the new Pope bid farewell with a “Good Sunday to all” and then continued to greet the cheering faithful with arm gestures. He did not say the Marian prayer from the window of the Apostolic Palace as usual, but from the central loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica, from where he had shown himself to the world last Thursday after his election. He was assisted by the head of the papal liturgy, Archbishop Diego Ravelli.

Around one hundred thousand people were gathered in St. Peter’s Square. Among them were Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini and the French party Rassemblement National (RN) leader, Marine Le Pen. The latter took part in a meeting of the Lega political academy in Rome on Sunday.