‘No More War!’: Pope Leo XIV Calls for Peace at St. Peter’s Prayer Mass in Historic First Sunday Blessing

By Emmanuel Kwada

In his first Sunday blessing as pontiff, Pope Leo XIV delivered a powerful plea for peace, urging world leaders to end conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, and beyond during a vibrant Regina Caeli prayer mass from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.

Addressing an estimated 100,000 faithful, pilgrims, and tourists in St. Peter’s Square, the 69-year-old Chicago-born pope, the first American to lead the Catholic Church, echoed his predecessor Pope Francis by denouncing the “third world war in pieces” and proclaiming, “No more war!”

Pope Leo XIV appeals for peace in Gaza and Ukraine, and between India and Pakistan.

“I carry in my heart the sufferings of the beloved Ukrainian people. Let everything possible be done to achieve an authentic, just and lasting peace as soon as possible. May all the prisoners be… pic.twitter.com/lLP2vV8CPe

— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) May 11, 2025

The mass, rich in symbolic gestures and marked by a festive atmosphere, set the tone for Leo’s papacy, blending solemn calls for global harmony with a deep connection to the Virgin Mary and the Easter season.

Pope Leo XIV delivered a powerful plea for peace, urging world leaders to end conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, and beyond

The Regina Caeli prayer mass, held at noon on Sunday, May 11, 2025, was Pope Leo XIV’s second official public appearance since his election on May 8 as the 267th pontiff, following the death of Pope Francis on April 21.

The event, detailed by Vatican News and Reuters, began with a private Mass celebrated by Leo earlier that morning near the tomb of St. Peter in the Vatican Grottoes, joined by Rev. Alejandro Moral Anton, head of his Augustinian order.

Photo credit: Vatican News

This intimate setting underscored Leo’s humility and his roots as an Augustinian missionary who spent over two decades in Peru.

At midday, St. Peter’s Square buzzed with anticipation as tens of thousands gathered, waving flags from the United States, Peru, Mexico, Brazil, Spain, and beyond, reflecting the global reach of the Catholic Church’s 1.4 billion members.

Dear brothers and sisters, happy Sunday!

The atmosphere was electrified by the Jubilee of Bands, a Holy Year event where musicians from Italy, Mexico, and Latin America marched along Via della Conciliazione, playing classics like John Philip Sousa’s “Stars and Stripes Forever,” the Rocky theme, and even the Village People’s “YMCA,” as reported by CNN and Channels Television.

The crowd, including nuns, priests, and young pilgrims strumming guitars, erupted in cheers as Leo appeared on the velvet-draped loggia, wearing a simple white cassock and his silver pectoral cross, a contrast to the ornate relic-laden cross he wore on election night.

Bishop Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV

Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost, opened his address with a warm, “Dear brothers and sisters, happy Sunday!” in fluent Italian, drawing wild applause from the crowd, as noted by The Standard.

His message centered on peace, invoking the 80th anniversary of World War II’s end to underscore the urgency of his call. Quoting Pope Francis, Leo described today’s conflicts as a “third world war in pieces” and urged the world’s powerful leaders to heed the “ever-timely appeal: No more war!”

Ukraine: Leo expressed deep sorrow for the “sufferings of the beloved Ukrainian people,” calling for “everything possible” to achieve an “authentic, just, and lasting peace.”

I am deeply pained by what is happening

He welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent proposal for direct talks with Ukraine, advocating for negotiations to end the three-year conflict, as reported by Reuters.

“I am deeply pained by what is happening,” Leo said, profoundly saddened by the Israel-Hamas war. He demanded an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages held by Hamas, and urgent humanitarian aid for Gaza’s “exhausted civilian population,” echoing Francis’s nightly calls to a Gaza church during the conflict, per USA Today.

Leo praised the fragile ceasefire between India and Pakistan, negotiated hours before his address, and prayed for upcoming talks to yield a “lasting accord” between the nuclear-armed neighbors, as noted by The Washington Post.

With you I am a Christian, for you I am a bishop

Leo concluded his peace appeal with a heartfelt prayer to “Mary Queen of Peace,” asking her to intercede for “the miracle of peace,” a gesture that resonated deeply with the crowd, according to NPR.

In a departure from tradition, Pope Leo surprised the faithful by singing the Regina Caeli, a Latin Marian antiphon typically recited by popes during the Easter season, as reported by CBS News.

The prayer, honoring the Virgin Mary as “Queen of Heaven,” was a focal point of the mass, aligning with the day’s liturgical significance. Leo led the crowd in the prayer, accompanied by their voices, creating a moment of unity captured by Vatican Media.

He also acknowledged Mother’s Day, celebrated in many countries that Sunday, wishing all mothers, “including those in heaven,” a Happy Mother’s Day, a personal touch that drew applause, per NPR.

Mary Queen of Peace

Leo’s address was laden with symbolic gestures signaling his vision for a unified, inclusive Church. His choice to sing the Regina Caeli reflected his pastoral warmth, while his simple attire—eschewing the formal red cape worn on election night—emphasized humility, as noted by CBS News.

His Augustinian background, highlighted by his paraphrase of St. Augustine’s “With you I am a Christian, for you I am a bishop,” underscored his commitment to service, per Catholic News Agency.

He stole our hearts, because he awakened Christianity

The pope’s Peruvian connection resonated strongly with attendees like Alejandrina Espinosa, a 59-year-old Quechua Peruvian who told AFP, “He stole our hearts, because he awakened Christianity,” hoping Leo could unite religions to address the global humanitarian crisis.

Bertha Santander, a Peruvian living in Italy, unfurled a massive Peruvian flag, tearfully recalling Leo’s Spanish greeting on election night, per CBS News. Peruvian Gladys Ruiz, a Rome resident, called him a “Peruvian pope” due to his dual citizenship, a sentiment echoed by the crowd’s Peruvian flags, as Reuters reported.

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