Pope Leo XIV calls for peace in Ukraine, a Gaza ceasefire and release of hostages in Sunday appeal

VATICAN CITY AP Pope Leo XIV called for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine and an immediate ceasefire in Gaza with the release of hostages and delivery of humanitarian aid in his first Sunday noon blessing as pontiff Never again war Leo stated from the loggia of St Peter s Basilica Recalling the end of World War II years ago Leo quoted Pope Francis in denouncing the number of conflicts ravaging the globe in the modern day saying it was a third world war in pieces Leo also recalled that Sunday was Mother s Day in a large number of 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 THIS IS A CURRENT NEWS UPDATE AP s earlier story follows below VATICAN CITY AP Pope Leo XIV celebrated a private Mass on Sunday near the tomb of St Peter before he was to deliver his first Sunday noon blessing from the loggia of St Peter s Basilica The Vatican announced the pope was joined by the head of his Augustinian order the Rev Alejandro Moral Anton The Mass occurred in the grottoes underneath St Peter s 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 society also contains the tombs of past popes including Pope Benedict XVI With still an hour to go before Leo was to appear to the inhabitants 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 Leo on Saturday prayed before the tomb of Pope Francis located across town at the St Mary Major Basilica The -year-old Chicago-born missionary was elected th pope on Thursday the first American pope He appeared to the world from the same loggia offering a message of peace and unity Associated Press religion coverage receives sponsorship through the AP s collaboration with The Conversation US with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc The AP is solely responsible for this content Source