Pope Leo XIV gives his first Sunday message and calls for “no more wars”

Pope Leo XIV delivered his first public address from the Vatican balcony this Sunday, May 11, after being elected pontiff on May 8, and he did so with a clear and forceful request: calling for an end to the war.

In front of St. Peter's Square , the new leader of the Catholic Church launched an urgent appeal for world peace and directly mentioned the conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, India and Pakistan .

In fluent Italian and with a firm voice, Leo XIV called on the world's major powers to work toward a " genuine, just, and lasting peace ." He specifically cited the three-year-old war in Ukraine and said he was moved by the "suffering of the beloved Ukrainian people." The call came hours after Vladimir Putin proposed direct negotiations with Ukraine .

Regarding Gaza, the Pope expressed his “ deep sadness ” over the conflict and called for an immediate ceasefire , as well as the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas and the entry of humanitarian aid .

In his speech, León echoed a phrase from the late Pope Francis, asserting that today we are living “a Third World War in pieces,” while commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II , a conflict that left more than 60 million dead.

He also celebrated the fragile ceasefire between India and Pakistan and asked God for the "miracle of peace" for all peoples in conflict. The message coincided with a musical pilgrimage. Minutes before the speech, dozens of marching bands paraded through the Vatican, playing everything from classical marches to popular songs like "YMCA" and music from the movie Rocky. The event brought together more than 100,000 people , many from Italy, Mexico, and Latin America , as part of the Catholic Holy Year .

#PopeLeoXIV to #young people : Do not be afraid, accept the invitation of Christ the Lord! https://t.co/QLzaqSJHPB pic.twitter.com/mY2dtoOQZN

— Vatican News (@vaticannews_es) May 11, 2025

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