Pope Leo XIV urges global peace in first Sunday address, calls for end to war in Ukraine

Pope Leo XIV, in his first Sunday address since being elected pontiff, appealed to world powers for “no more war,” calling for an "authentic and lasting peace" in Ukraine and a ceasefire in Gaza, Reuters reported on May 11.

The new pope said he carries in his heart the "suffering of the beloved people of Ukraine."

Pope Leo was appointed earlier this week on May 8, following the death of Pope Francis on April 21 at the age of 88. On May 7, cardinals officially opened the historic conclave in the Vatican to choose the next head of the Catholic Church.

Speaking to thousands gathered in St. Peter’s Square on May 11, the pope demanded the release of all hostages held by Hamas and welcomed the recent ceasefire between India and Pakistan.

The pope said he was praying to God to grant the world the "miracle of peace."

Previously, while serving as Bishop of Chiclayo in Peru, Leo XIV spoke out against Russia's continued war against Ukraine. In a 2022 interview with Peruvian news outlet Semanario Expresión, he condemned Russia's war against Ukraine, characterizing it as "a true invasion, imperialist in nature, where Russia seeks to conquer territory for reasons of power."

What will the new pope mean for Ukraine?

Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to include comments from a 2022 interview, given while Robert Prevost was Bishop of Chiclayo, Peru. With the announcement that Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost has been chosen as the new pope and leader of the Catholic Church, Ukrainians are wondering what the surprise appointment of the American-born pontiff will mean for their country. Past comments made by the new pope, who has taken the name Pope Leo XIV, quickly surfaced to form an idea of his vie

The Kyiv IndependentAndrea Januta,