Tens of thousands of faithful Catholics gathered in St. Peter's Square to watch Pope Leo XIV deliver the first Sunday blessing of his pontificate exactly at noon. They unfurled flags from around the world,

Pope Leo XIV calls for peace in Gaza and Ukraine in his first Sunday blessing, urging an end to violence and humanitarian aid while addressing 100,000 worshippers.

Pope Leo XIV delivered his first Sunday noon blessing from the loggia at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, three days after the 69-year-old Chicago-born missionary made history as the first American elected to lead the Catholic Church.

Pope Leo XIV called for a genuine and just peace in Ukraine and an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, in his first Sunday noon blessing as pontiff that featured some symbolic gestures suggesting a message of unity in a polarized Catholic Church.

“Peace be with you,” were Pope Leo’s first words to the crowd. “My dear brothers and sisters, this is the first greeting of the risen Christ, the Good Shepherd who gave His life for God’s flock,” he said, praying that Christ’s peace would enter people’s hearts, their families and “the whole earth.”

Faithful followers flocked to Manhattan’s St. Patrick’s Cathedral to say prayers and offer best wishes to Cardinal Robert Prevost, the new Pope Leo, leader of the Catholic Church.

Pope Leo XIV called for a genuine and just peace in Ukraine and an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, in his first Sunday noon blessing as pontiff that featured some symbolic gestures suggesting a message of unity in a polarized Catholic Church.