Pope Leo XIV warns of 'third world war' in first Sunday blessing as pontiff

The new pope called for peace in Ukraine and Gaza in his first Sunday noon blessing.

‘Never again war,’ Leo XIV declared to the masses gathered below his balcony of St Peter’s Basilica.

The Sunday blessing delivered to thousands in the Vatican is one of the best known duties of the pontiff,and all eyes were on the new leader of the Catholic Church.

He used his address to call for peace. Recalling the end of the Second World War 80 years ago, Leo quoted Pope Francis in denouncing the number of conflicts ravaging the globe today,saying it is a ‘third world war in pieces’.

Leo also highlighted that today is Mother’s Day in many countries and wished all mothers,‘including those in heaven’,a happy Mother’s Day.

The crowd,filled with marching bands in town for a special Jubilee weekend,erupted in cheers and music as the bells of St Peter’s Basilica tolled.

Pope Leo XIV is seen on a giant screen as he delivers the Regina Caeli prayer from the main central loggia of St Peter’s basilica today (Picture: Getty)

Earlier today, Leo celebrated a private Mass near the tomb of St Peter.

The Vatican said the Pope was joined by the head of his Augustinian order,the Rev Alejandro Moral Anton,in the grottoes underneath St Peter’s. It is the traditional burial place of St Peter – the apostle who is considered the be the first pope.

The area,which is normally open to the public,also contains the tombs of past popes,including Benedict XVI.

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.

Before giving today’s blessing,Pope Leo XIV prayed on the tomb of late Pope Francis (Picture: AP)

Leo on Saturday prayed before the tomb of Pope Francis,located at the St Mary Major Basilica.

The 69-year-old Chicago-born missionary was elected as the first American pontiff on Thursday.

In his first formal audience,the new pontiff revealed he took this name to honour Pope Leo XIII,a social justice advocate who backed workers’ rights during the industrial revolution.

Leo XIV said the Church must now take the lead in facing newer threats to workers,such as artificial intelligence,saying AI poses ‘new challenges for the defence of human dignity,justice and labour’.