Pope Leo XIV speaks from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica from where he delivered his first Sunday blessing since his election to the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square for the traditional Regina Caeli prayer at noon, on Sunday, May 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)

Pope Leo XIV wasted no time making his position clear on global conflict, using his first Sunday blessing as pontiff to follow in his predecessor’s footsteps and call for an end to all wars currently ravaging the world.

“The immense tragedy of the Second World War ended 80 years ago, after so many millions of victims. And now we’re facing the tragedy of a Third World War in pieces, as Pope Francis often said,” the new pope told the massive crowd from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican.

“I too would like to address the powerful people of the world by repeating the ever-present call ‘never again war.’”

Last week’s conclave swiftly resulted in the unprecedented election of the first North American pope ― a 69-year-old missionary who hails from Chicago and spent much of his life in Peru. His........

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