Around 10:00 hours, shouts of joy began to be heard under the Charlemagne Wing of the San Pedro Colonnade.
"Never again war!" Pope Leo XIV echoed the words of Pope Paul VI when appealing for the "miracle of peace" in his Regina Coeli prayer ("Queen of Heaven") before over 100,000 enthusiastic faithful in St. Peter's Square, alternating chants of "Long live the Pope!" with "Leone, Leone!"
With very direct references to the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, and the conflict between India and Pakistan, the new Pontiff once again paid tribute to his predecessor and recalled how Pope Francis had described the explosive international situation as "a third world war in pieces."
"The enormous tragedy of the Second World War ended 80 years ago after causing 60 million victims," Pope Leo XIV recalled after the Latin prayer, before raising his voice in Italian to invoke "the ever-relevant appeal" of Pope Paul VI in 1965, on the twentieth anniversary of the founding of the UN: "Mai più la guerra!"
"I carry in my heart the suffering of the beloved Ukrainian people," said the North American Pope, in a first sign of his willingness to speak out to "the greats of the world." A day after the leaders' summit in Kiev, Leo XIV called for "every effort to be made for a genuine, just, and lasting peace."
"I am deeply pained by what is happening in the Gaza Strip," he added. The Pope called for an "immediate ceasefire" and urged for "humanitarian aid to be provided to the exhausted civilian population and for all hostages to be released."
The Pontiff also acknowledged "with satisfaction the announcement of the ceasefire between India and Pakistan and expressed confidence that a lasting agreement for the cessation of hostilities can be reached soon. "But how many other conflicts are there in the world!" warned the Pope, invoking the names of Mary and Jesus to achieve "the miracle of peace."
The North American-Peruvian Pope then had a moment that was celebrated by the pilgrims, when he thanked the presence "of a group of doctors from Granada (Spain)" and of faithful from "Valladolid and Torrelodones (Madrid)". He also warmly acknowledged those from Dallas (Texas), Malta, Panama, Montesilvano, and Cinisi (Palermo).
EL MUNDO, in Chiclayo, the 'small homeland' of the new Pope: "Father Roberto likes to talk about football and has a very good appetite"
Robert Prevost explains to the cardinals why he chose the name Leo XIV
Under a splendid sun, and after wishing "a good Sunday" to the massive parish of San Pedro, the Pontiff also had words for the youth, this time recalling the exhortation of John Paul II: "Do not be afraid!" He specifically referred to the increase in vocations "which the Church so greatly needs."
"It is important that young people are welcomed and listened to in our communities," emphasized the Pope. "And that they are encouraged to follow the vocational path, and that they can trust in credible models of generous dedication to God and their brothers."
"Courage! Fear not!" Leo XIV also emphasized in a previous mass, held before religious in the crypt of San Pedro, with a long introduction in English where he recalled how Jesus used those words so many times in the Gospel. "We must be courageous with the testimony we give, with words, and above all with life, giving life, serving, sometimes with great sacrifices to live out this mission."
Leo XIV thus joined the World Day of Prayer for Vocations, followed by a collective congratulation to mothers (Mother's Day was celebrated in Italy on Sunday) and an affectionate greeting to the "brothers and sisters" who welcomed him in St. Peter's Square with the same devotion with which they bid farewell to Francis.
The anathema of Steve Bannon reached San Pedro, criticizing the choice of Robert Francis Prevost Martínez as an anti-Trump "trick" orchestrated by the Vatican. American Greg Stevenson, who arrived in Rome from Boston this week with his wife Lea, distanced himself from the criticisms and spoke in favor of the American Pope: "It is a very loud minority that criticizes him. The truth is that American Catholics are very proud of his election. And so are the cardinals. Let's bury the hatred and come together in a prayer of unity."
Italian Vice President Matteo Salvini and the leader of National Rally, Marine Le Pen, joined the collective prayer in San Pedro in an apparent gesture of acceptance by the European far-right of the new American Pontiff.
From Arequipa, Peru, there was a strong representation led by José Huamán and with the banner "Chiclayo, present". "He is our Pope, since the Americans don't want him," explained José. "I hope he visits us soon and sings 'Feliz Navidad' again with the Peruvian people."