Vatican News: Pope Leo XIV marked the first anniversary of his pontificate with a strong appeal for peace during a visit to the southern Italian city of Pompeii on Friday. Celebrating Mass at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary, the Pope prayed that God would calm hatred between peoples and guide world leaders toward justice and reconciliation.
Thousands of pilgrims gathered in the square outside the famous Marian shrine as the Pope reflected on the suffering caused by wars across the world. He said humanity cannot become used to scenes of violence and death that appear daily in the news.
“Peace is born within the heart,” Pope Leo said during his homily. He called on believers to pray the Rosary for peace and asked God to touch hearts filled with resentment and anger.
“May God calm fratricidal hatred and enlighten those who carry responsibilities in government,” he prayed.
The visit to Pompeii held special meaning for Pope Leo XIV. He recalled that he had been elected Pope on the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeii, making the shrine an important spiritual place for his ministry.
“I had to come here to place my service under the protection of the Blessed Virgin,” he told the faithful.
Pope also explained that by choosing the name Leo, he follows the example of Pope Leo XIII, who strongly promoted devotion to the Rosary and wrote extensively about its spiritual importance.
During the Mass, Pope Leo reflected on the history of the Shrine of Pompeii and paid tribute to Saint Bartolo Longo and his wife Countess Marianna Farnararo De Fusco, who helped establish the shrine near Mount Vesuvius. The volcano famously destroyed the ancient Roman city of Pompeii in 79 AD.
Recalling the words of Saint John Paul II during his 2003 visit to Pompeii, Pope Leo said modern society is slowly moving away from Christian values and even losing memory of them. He stressed the need to proclaim Christ once again in today’s world.
Pope focused much of his reflection on the mystery of the Annunciation, when the angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would become the mother of Jesus. He described the prayer of the Hail Mary as an invitation to joy because it reminds believers of God’s mercy entering the world through Christ.
He said Mary continues to guide the Church toward Jesus and teaches believers how to welcome Him with faith and trust.
Speaking about the Rosary, Pope Leo described it as a simple yet powerful prayer rooted deeply in salvation history. He said generations of Christians have found strength and spiritual guidance through it.
“The Rosary has a Marian form, but a Christological and Eucharistic heart,” the Pope explained.
He added that every act of love directed toward Mary ultimately leads believers back to Jesus and to the Eucharist, which he called the center of Christian life.
Pope ended his homily by inviting families and communities around the world to pray together for peace. At a time marked by conflict and division, he said prayer must be joined with political, economic, spiritual, and religious commitment to build a more peaceful world.
After the Mass in Pompeii, Pope Leo continued his pastoral visit with a journey to Naples, where he met local faithful and encouraged the city to become a place of hope, solidarity, and peace.