On his first Sunday appearance as pope, Leo XIV made a passionate appeal for peace and an end to the armed conflicts in the world, especially in Ukraine and Gaza, and cried out, “Never again war!”
He recalled that May 8, the day of his election as pope, marked the 80th anniversary of “the terrible tragedy” of the Second World War in which 60 million people were killed. Turning to the present moment, he repeated Pope Francis’ warning that “a third world war is being waged piecemeal” and made a passionate appeal to the world’s major powers, saying, “Never again war!” The plea drew a roar of approval from the 100,000 Romans and pilgrims from around the world.
Pope Leo called for an end to the killing in Ukraine and said that “the suffering of the beloved Ukrainian people rises up in my heart.” He called for everything possible to be done “to bring an authentic, just and lasting peace” together with “the release of prisoners and the return home of the deported children,” who have been taken from Ukraine by Russia.
Then turning to the conflict in Gaza, where the killing continues and more than two million people are being deprived by Israel of the basic necessities of life, Pope Leo said, “It pains me deeply what is happening in the Gaza Strip.” He pleaded for “an immediate ceasefire” and for “the provision of the much-needed humanitarian aid to the exhausted population there” as well as the release of all the remaining hostages being held by Hamas and other armed groups.
He expressed his satisfaction at the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, a conflict that started around the time of the conclave, and called for the consolidation of peace there.
This weekend is the Jubilee of Bands and Popular Entertainment, and before the pope appeared on the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, bands marched to the front of the square. The bands played and the crowd roared at the words of the 266th successor of St. Peter.
“I consider it a gift from God that the first Sunday of my service as bishop of Rome is Good Shepherd Sunday,” he said. He recalled that the Gospel of the day speaks of how Jesus revealed himself as “the true Shepherd, who knows and loves his sheep and gives his life for them.”
“Jesus says that he knows his sheep and that they listen to his voice and follow him,” he said, adding that Pope St. Gregory the Great once said in a homily that “people respond to the love of those who love them.”
This newly elected shepherd, who holds both American and Peruvian citizenship and is now the leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics, recalled that this Sunday is also the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. “I have the joy of praying with you and all the people of God for vocations, especially those to the priesthood and consecrated life.” He emphasized that “the church has such a great need for them,” alluding to the drop in vocations, especially in the Western world in recent decades.
Pope Leo, who joined the Augustinian order as a young man, told his global audience, “It is important that young men and women on their vocational journey find acceptance, listening and encouragement in their communities, and that they can look up to credible models of generous dedication to God and to their brothers and sisters.”
Recognizing, however, that there are many other vocations in life, he said he joined Pope Francis in a message the late pope had written for this day inviting people “to welcome and accompany young people” and to “ask our heavenly Father to assist us in living in service to one another, each according to his or her state of life, shepherds after his own heart capable of helping one another to walk in love and truth.” He made a personal appeal to young people: “Do not be afraid! Welcome the church’s invitation and that of Christ the Lord!"
Then, departing from his prepared text, he began singing the “Regina Caeli Laetare” in Latin, and then gave his blessing, drawing thunderous applause from the enormous crowd that packed St. Peter’s Square and stretched down the Via della Conciliazione and overflowed into the side streets.
Early in his message, he greeted the bands taking part in the jubilee celebration “with affection” and thanked them “because, with their music and performances, they enliven the feast of Christ the Good Shepherd: the one who guides the church with his Holy Spirit.”
Pope Leo then noted that “[t]oday, in Italy and in other countries, we celebrate Mother’s Day. I send a warm greeting to all mothers, with a prayer for them and for those who are already in heaven. Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers!”
He concluded by entrusting his appeal for peace to Mary, Queen of Peace, so that she may plead with the Lord Jesus, her son, to grant peace to the whole world.
This was Leo XIV’s third day as pope. Yesterday, May 10, he became a pope on the move. He traveled 25 miles from Rome to the hill town of Genazzano to pray at the sanctuary of Mother of Good Counsel, a revered image of the Mother Mary and Child Jesus that was brought here from Albania in 1467 and is enshrined in the church that has been administered by the Augustinians since 1356.
It is an image dear to the Augustinian family and especially to Robert Francis Prevost, who came here many times and, in particular, at the major turning points in his life: When he was elected superior general of the Augustinian Order, when he was created cardinal by Pope Francis in 2023 and now after being elected pope.
He arrived in a black covered van from the Vatican, around 4:30 p.m., having driven from the Palace of the Holy Office, where he has a Vatican apartment and where he has slept since his election as pope. The rector of the church had been alerted the previous day, but nobody else knew about this visit until the Italian security descended on the town around lunchtime and word spread rapidly. By the time he arrived, crowds had gathered to welcome and applaud him, many shouting “Viva il Papa, Viva Leo XIV!” They likely appreciated that he took the name Leo—Leo XIII came from not far from here and also had a special devotion to the Mother of Good Counsel.
Pope Leo prayed in front of the revered image, then spoke and had tea and biscuits with the Augustinian friars who live there, before returning to the van, blessing children and many other people, and then set off to Rome.
He did not return to the Vatican, however. He went straight to the Basilica of St. Mary Major to pray at the tomb of his predecessor, whom he first came to know when he visited Buenos Aires and concelebrated Mass with the archbishop, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, in 2006. The basilica was crowded with pilgrims and Romans, who applauded with joy and shouts of “Viva il Papa!” when he entered the papal basilica around 7 p.m. He prayed in front of the revered image of Our Lady, Protectress of the Roman People (Salus Populi Romani), where Francis came more than 120 times during his 12 years as pope.
He then went to the nearby tomb of the first Latin American pope, who had appointed him as bishop in Peru, brought him to Rome to head the Dicastery for Bishops and made him cardinal.
Pope Leo brought with him a white rose, placed it on the marble tomb, then went on his knees and prayed for his much-loved predecessor, whose tomb has now become a site of pilgrimage.
The Chicago-born pope prayed in silence at the tomb of Francis as the sun was setting over Rome. Earlier in the day, in a two-hour meeting with the College of Cardinals, Pope Leo made abundantly clear that that he intends to take up the rich legacy of Francis and continue the implementation of the teachings of the Second Vatican Council and the building of a synodal, missionary church that the first Jesuit pope had worked for.
In that morning talk, Pope Leo told the entire College of Cardinals, whose members come from 96 countries: “Beginning with St. Peter and up to myself, his unworthy successor, the pope has been a humble servant of God and of his brothers and sisters, and nothing more than this. It has been clearly seen in the example of so many of my predecessors, and most recently by Pope Francis himself, with his example of complete dedication to service and to sober simplicity of life, his abandonment to God throughout his ministry and his serene trust at the moment of his return to the Father’s house. Let us take up this precious legacy and continue on the journey, inspired by the same hope that is born of faith.”
After that morning commitment, as he prayed in front of the tomb of his predecessor, I could not help but think that Francis in heaven would have rejoiced and would be praying for Leo as he takes up the cross and mission of the papacy.
