Pope Leo XIV has strong message to world leaders in first Sunday address following 'anti-Trump' claims
Pope Leo XIV has urged world leaders to push towards peace, in his first Sunday blessing at the Vatican since he took the job.
The 69-year-old welcomed the ceasefire agreement reached between India and Pakistan, while pushing for 'lasting peace' to be reached between Ukraine and Russia, and a ceasefire in Gaza.
Pope Francis' successor was officially announced on Thursday (May 8), with the role of head of the Catholic Church going to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost - whose papal name is Pope Leo XIV.
In his first Sunday noon blessing as pontiff, from the balcony of St Peter's Basilica, he declared to the masses below him: "Never again war."
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Pope Leo called for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, as well as an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, with the release of hostages and delivery of humanitarian aid.
Recalling the end of the Second World War 80 years ago, Pope Leo quoted Pope Francis in denouncing the number of conflicts ravaging the globe today, saying it is a 'third world war in pieces'.
Pope Leo also highlighted that Sunday is Mother’s Day in many countries and wished all mothers, 'including those in heaven', a happy Mother’s Day.
Hours before Leo was to appear to the public, St Peter’s Square was filing up with pilgrims, well-wishers and the curious, joined by multiple marching bands that made grand entrances into the square.
His address comes following 'anti-Trump' claims, with people quickly picking up on the numerous times he has shared tweets and articles discussing President Donald Trump and his administration over the years.
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."
And Leo's apparent criticism of Trump's policies date even further back than that too, with one post being from 10 years ago.
In July 2015, Leo's account reposted an article by New York's Cardinal Timothy Dolan for The Washington Post.
The article is titled: "Why Donald Trump's anti-immigration rhetoric is so problematic."
The resurfaced comments follow shortly after Trump took to Truth Social to react to the announcement of the newly appointed pope.
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!"
Joe Yates