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Vatican City (AP) – Pope Leo XIV has called for authentic peace in Ukraine and an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
“I will also deal with the world’s great powers by repeating the ever-present call “Never Again War,” Leo said up to an estimated 100,000 people from the loggia at St. Peter’s Cathedral.
It was the first time Leo has returned to the loggia. It was the first time he had appeared in the world on Thursday evening after an astonishing election as the first pope from the United States. He then conveyed the message of peace.
Leo had featured the Pope’s tradition of offering Sunday blessings at noon, but he had some twists. His predecessor delivered greetings through the window in the studio at the Apostles Palace, but as he headed to the side of the square, Leo went to the centre of the square and the centre of the church.
Part of it was logistics. He was unable to access the Pope’s apartment in the palace until the second half of Sunday, when he was sealed for the first time since Pope Francis’ death.
Leo also provided novelty by singing Regina Caeri’s prayers. Latin prayers said during Easter season the recent popes usually just come back to old Latin masses of the past.
Traditionalists and conservatives, who have felt marginalized by Pope Francis’ reforms and loose liturgical style, are looking for gestures to suggest Leo’s priorities. Some at least expressed cautious optimism when they returned to the traditional style Leo exhibited on Thursday night.
He continued on Saturday wearing the Pope of Brocade, which was stolen while visiting Marian Sanctuary south of Rome. There he kneeled in honor, greeting the crowd surrounded by long cassock priests, usually preferred by conservatives.
Aldo Maria Valli, a conservative Italian journalist who writes a popular blog, thanked these gestures and urged traditionalists to give Leo a chance, saying he liked many of what he had seen so far. “Don’t shoot Leo,” he wrote.
On Sunday, Leo returned wearing the Pope’s simple white cassock and a cross on his silver breast. He wore something more glamorous on Thursday night, including the relics of St. Augustine and his mother, St. Monica, given to him by his Augustine’s religious order.
It was on hand in the Sunday square of Leo’s first noon prayer, with more conservatives of fire in Europe, Marine Le Pen of France and Matteo Salvini of Italy. The Italian minister emphasizes his Catholic faith in his political message.
“My beloved Ukrainian”
Leo cited Pope Francis, denounced the number of conflicts that have devastated the world today, calling it “World War III.”
“In my heart I carry the suffering of my beloved Ukrainians,” he said. “Let’s do everything we can to achieve authentic, just and lasting peace as quickly as possible.”
He welcomed the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, calling for the release of war prisoners and the return of Ukrainian children to families.
He also called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and humanitarian relief “to release the exhausted civilians and all hostages.”
Leo also pointed out that Sunday is Mother’s Day in many countries and that she wants all mothers a happy Mother’s Day “including the people in heaven.”
The crowds filled with town marching bands for a special Jubilee weekend erupted with cheers and music when the bells of St. Peter’s Cathedral rang.
Angela Gentil in Bali arrived in the square three hours earlier and in place. Without knowing that Cardinals had elected yet another non-Italian Pope, she said Leo had made her happy that he had come to the central balcony of the cathedral, so that the crowd could see him face to face. “It works for me what’s good for the Holy Spirit,” she said. “I trust you.”
More than 50 pilgrims from Houston, Texas were also in the square, waving three large American flags. They were in Rome on a pre-planned pilgrimage in the Holy Year, and said they were proud to be part of this historic opportunity.
“The words cannot express my admiration or gratitude to God,” said Pastor Dominique Nugn, who led the Vietnamese-American group. He said he hoped that the Pope would be happy to see not only stars and stripes, but also the Peruvian flag and all other countries exhibit the universality of the Church.
Remove cave mass and apartment
Also on Sunday, Leo celebrated a private mass near the tomb of St. Peter, praying at several past Pope tombs in the caves below the cathedral. Vatican media photographed Pope Paul VI, who closed the modernization reforms of Vatican II Council in the 1960s, and at the end of the more conservative scope, Pope Paul VI: Pope Paul VI, who closed the Pope of Pius XIII and Benedict XVI.
He celebrated Mass at Puse with Augustine’s Head of Order and his brother John. In his holy life, he recalls that Sunday is also the day the Catholic Church celebrates its religious occupation, and points out that the issue of the decline of occupation was raised by the Cardinals in their pre-conflict discussions before his election.
Leo said that priests can encourage more professions by providing a good example of “looking for ways to “live the joys of the gospel and encourage young people to hear the Lord’s voice and follow suit to serve in the church, rather than discouraging others.”
Leo also attended the official dismissal of the Pope’s apartment at the Apostle Palace, which was sealed after Francis’ death on April 21. It is unclear whether Leo will move to the apartment or use them for a formal audience like Francis.
Leo had been sleeping in his old apartment in the Vatican Palazzo since the election. Rather than moving to the palace, Francis decided to live and work at the Domus Santa Marta Hotel in the Vatican, and eventually took over most of the second floor.
The 69-year-old Chicago-born missionary was elected Pope 267th on Thursday. He is having a busy week before the official installation mass next Sunday.
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Associated Press’ Religious Reporting will be supported through collaboration with the Associated Press and Conversation, along with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is responsible for this content only.
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