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Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - Pope Leo entrusts his prayer for peace to Mary, the "Queen of Peace," "so that she may present it to the Lord Jesus to obtain for us the miracle of peace." With this, Pope Leo XIV concluded his brief address, delivered from the central loggia of St. Peter's Basilica after the first Regina Coeli following his election as Successor of Peter. A brief speech in which the Bishop of Rome addressed the conflicts in the world and reiterated the words spoken by Paul VI in his famous speech to the UN: "Never again war!" "Eighty years ago, on May 8," the Pope began his address after the blessing, "the immense tragedy of the Second World War ended, which claimed sixty million victims. In today’s dramatic scenario of a piecemeal third world war, as Pope Francis stated many times, I too address the world’s leaders, repeating the ever-timely appeal: “Never again war!”.
"I carry in my heart the sufferings of the beloved Ukrainian people," Pope Leo continued. "May everything possible be done to reach an authentic, just and lasting peace, as soon as possible. Let all the prisoners be freed and the children return to their own families."
The Bishop of Rome then said he was "deeply saddened" by "what is happening in the Gaza Strip: may there be an immediate ceasefire! Let humanitarian aid be provided to the stricken civil population, and let all the hostages be freed!"
Pope Leo welcomed with satisfaction the "announcement of the ceasefire between India and Pakistan" hoping "that through the upcoming negotiations, a lasting accord may be reached soon. But how many other conflicts there are in the world! I entrust this heartfelt appeal to the Queen of Peace, so that she may present it to the Lord Jesus to obtain for us the miracle of peace."
"Today in Italy and in other countries we celebrate Mother’s Day," the Pope concluded. "I send a fond greeting to all mothers, with a prayer for them, and for those who are already in Heaven." (F.B.) (Agenzia Fides, 11/5/2025)
