Pope Leo led his inaugural “Regina Caeli” prayer from St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican this Sunday.

The newly appointed pontiff delivered the address shortly after visiting the tomb of his predecessor, Pope Francis.

“In these initial days of my new ministry, entrusted to me by the Church, I felt a strong desire to come here and continue this mission as Peter’s Successor,” the Pope stated.

He also addressed young Catholics, urging them to consider religious life, saying, “Do not be afraid! Accept the invitation of the Church and Christ the Lord!”

“May the Virgin Mary, whose entire life was a response to God’s call, always guide us in following Jesus,” he added.

Pope Leo also pleaded for an end to conflict during his address in St. Peter’s Square. He specifically called for a “genuine and lasting” peace in Ukraine, a ceasefire in Gaza, and the release of all hostages held by Hamas.

The Pope expressed his gratitude for the declared ceasefire between India and Pakistan, adding his prayers for God to grant the world the “miracle of peace.”

“No more war!” the Pope exclaimed, echoing a common plea of his predecessor and commemorating the recent 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, which resulted in approximately 60 million deaths.

In his inaugural address as Pope on Saturday, Leo delivered a strong message to the College of Cardinals, cautioning that artificial intelligence (AI) poses significant new threats to human dignity. He urged the Catholic Church to proactively address these challenges with moral clarity and decisive action.

Pope Leo, formerly Robert Francis Prevost, a missionary and head of the Dicastery for Bishops, is fluent in English, Spanish, and Italian. He was largely viewed as a unifying figure following the death of Pope Francis. His choice of the name “Leo” aligns his pontificate with Pope Leo XIII’s emphasis on social justice.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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