Pope Leo XIV Welcomes India-Pakistan Ceasefire, Calls for Global Peace in First Public Address

Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV, on Sunday welcomed the ceasefire between India and Pakistan following three days of military conflict sparked by India's Operation Sindoor, a series of targeted strikes against terror infrastructure inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
In his first Sunday Angelus address since his election as the 267th pontiff, Pope Leo told thousands gathered in St. Peter’s Square that he was “glad to hear of the truce” and expressed hope that “negotiations will lead to a lasting accord” between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
From the balcony overlooking the square, he made a strong call for global peace, saying again: "Never again war"
The pope also called on the world’s major powers to exercise restraint and to act as peacemakers in regions riven by conflict. His message comes as the world faces growing concern over rising tensions, including the long war between Russia and Ukraine and the worsening crisis in Gaza.
Calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, Pope Leo urged the release of all hostages and unhindered humanitarian aid for civilians suffering in the enclave. He echoed his predecessor, Pope Francis, who had often referred to the current era as a “third world war in pieces”—a phrase Leo repeated with concern.Z
Sunday marked Pope Leo’s first public appearance at the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica since his election last Thursday, following the death of Pope Francis on April 21. Leo, a 69-year-old missionary from Chicago and the first American to become pope, was chosen after a swift conclave and is viewed as a moderate voice with significant experience in Latin America and Africa.
Earlier in the morning, the new pope celebrated a private Mass near the tomb of St. Peter, accompanied by Rev. Alejandro Moral Anton, head of the Augustinian order, to which Leo belongs. The grottoes beneath the basilica, where the Mass was held, also house the tombs of several popes, including Pope Benedict XVI.
On Saturday, Leo visited the tomb of Pope Francis at St. Mary Major Basilica, a personal pilgrimage of prayer and homage to the late pontiff whose legacy he now carries forward.