During his inaugural Mass as Pope, Leo XIV delivered a heartfelt plea for global peace, turning the world's attention to regions still scarred by the devastation of conflict.

Concluding the liturgy with the traditional Regina Caeli prayer, the newly appointed pontiff expressed deep concern for those enduring the horrors of war, especially in Gaza, Myanmar, and Ukraine.

“In this moment of shared faith and hope, we must not overlook the anguish of our brothers and sisters suffering in silence,” he declared to the gathering of over 200,000 faithful and international dignitaries.

He painted a harrowing picture of Gaza, where, he noted, “children, parents, and the elderly are being pushed to the brink of starvation” amid the ongoing violence. In Myanmar, he mourned the tragic deaths of young innocents caught in fresh waves of violence. Turning to Ukraine, the Pope referred to it as a “martyred land,” still yearning for a fair and enduring peace settlement.

Following the Mass, Pope Leo met privately with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and First Lady Olena Zelenska, who were present at the inauguration.

Reflecting on his spiritual inheritance, the Pope said he felt the enduring guidance of Pope Francis, whom he believes “walks with us from heaven.” Entrusting his papal mission to the Virgin Mary—under the titles of Star of the Sea and Our Lady of Good Counsel—he called upon the faithful to join him in prayer.

“May her intercession bring peace, consolation to the suffering, and strengthen our resolve to be witnesses of the Risen Christ,” he concluded.