Pope Leo XIV Calls for Peace and Social Justice at Inaugural Mass

Pope Leo XIV, the first US-born pontiff, has called for peace in a world full of conflicts and defended social justice during his inaugural mass in St. Peter’s Square. The Pope emphasized traditional Catholic values, including the importance of a family built around a “stable union of a man and a woman”, and defended the rights of the unborn.

Notable Guests Attend the Inauguration Mass
The inauguration mass was attended by several notable guests, including US Vice President JD Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019. Vance was among the hundreds of dignitaries present, alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio, also a Catholic.

Other notable attendees included Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Peruvian President Dina Boluarte, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Israeli President Isaac Herzog, and Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro.

Pope’s Message for World Peace
Inacia Lisboa, a 71-year-old Catholic from Cape Verde, expressed her desire for the Pope to pray for world peace, saying: “The first thing is that he prays for us all, for peace in the world — we need it so much.” Pope Leo XIV paid tribute to his predecessor, Pope Francis, saying, “We still hear the voice of Pope Francis”.

Pope Leo XIV’s Background
Before becoming Pope, Leo XIV had visited several countries, including Australia, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, India, and Kenya, spreading messages of peace and faith. He also made a trip to Bas-Uélé to connect with families in conflict-ridden villages. As the head of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics, Pope Leo XIV’s leadership marks a new era for the Catholic Church.