In his first Sunday blessing at the Vatican since assuming office, Pope Leo XIV has called on international leaders to work towards peace.
In addition to calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and “lasting peace” between Russia and Ukraine, the 69-year-old praised the ceasefire accord made between India and Pakistan.
On Thursday, May 8, it was formally announced that Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, whose papal name is Pope Leo XIV, would succeed Pope Francis as leader of the Catholic Church.
During his first Sunday midday blessing as pope, he told the crowd below from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, “Never again war.”
Pope Leo demanded an immediate truce in Gaza, the release of hostages, and the provision of humanitarian help in addition to a fair and sustainable peace in Ukraine.
Pope Leo cited Pope Francis in criticising the amount of wars tearing the world apart now, calling it a “third world war in pieces”, in reference to the end of World War II eight decades ago.
Pope Leo also wished all moms, “including those in heaven”, a happy Mother’s Day, pointing out that Sunday is Mother’s Day in many countries.
St. Peter’s Square was crowded with pilgrims, well-wishers, and the curious just hours before Leo was scheduled to make his public appearance. Several marching bands also made impressive entrances into the square.
People swiftly noticed that he had shared tweets and articles about President Donald Trump and his government on multiple occasions over the years, and his speech follows ‘anti-Trump’ accusations.
What has Pope Leo said about Trump?
Most recently, Leo reposted a tweet which reads: “As Trump & Bukele use Oval to Feds’ illicit deportation of a US resident, once an undoc-ed Salvadorean himself, now-DC Aux +Evelio asks, ‘Do you not see the suffering? Is your conscience not disturbed? How can you stay quiet?’”
The Independent also reported Leo as resharing a tweet which reads: “There is nothing remotely Christian, American, or morally defensible about a policy that takes children away from their parents and warehouses them in cages. This is being carried out in our name and the shame is on us all.”
The newly elected pope has also hit out at Trump’s vice president JD Vance, resharing an op-ed from the National Catholic Reporter titled “JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn’t ask us to rank our love for others.”
The article came after comments Vance made to Fox News in February earlier this year, Vance saying: “There is a Christian concept that you love your family and then you love your neighbor, and then you love your community, and then you love your fellow citizens, and then after that, prioritize the rest of the world.”
“A lot of the far left has completely inverted that.”
Furthermore, Leo’s apparent disapproval of Trump’s policies dates back to a post from ten years ago.
An essay written by Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York for The Washington Post was shared on Leo’s account in July 2015.
The headline of the article is “Why Donald Trump’s anti-immigration rhetoric is so problematic.”
Shortly after Trump used Truth Social to respond to the announcement of the new pope, the remarks have reappeared.
What has Trump said about Pope Leo?
In a post to Truth Social, Trump wrote: “Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope. It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope.”
“What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country.”
“I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!”
