Pope Leo XIV, the first American leader of the Catholic Church, called for peace in Gaza and Ukraine at his inaugural mass.
Key Facts
Leo—the first American pope—on Sunday greeted Vice President JD Vance, who met Pope Francis one day before he died last month, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, along with scores of other leaders.
During Mass, Leo said he wants the Church to be “a small leaven of unity, communion, and fraternity within the world” that has “too much discord, too many wounds caused by hatred, violence, prejudice, the fear of difference,” according to the Associated Press.
At the end of Mass, Leo, who was inaugurated as the 267th pope, called for peace in Gaza and Ukraine, saying “we cannot forget our brothers and sisters who are suffering because of war.”
What Is The Inaugural Mass?
The inaugural Mass marked the official beginning of Leo’s pontificate.
