فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
Vatican City – Pope Leo XIV, the first pope from the United States, officially began his papacy on Sunday with a solemn inauguration mass in St. Peter’s Square, attended by approximately 200,000 people, including numerous world leaders and religious figures from across the globe.
In his first homily, the new pope delivered a powerful message denouncing economic models that exploit the planet’s resources and marginalize the poor, while calling for the creation of a new world rooted in peace—a clear reflection of the priorities he intends to pursue as leader of the Catholic Church.
Having spent two decades serving in impoverished areas of Peru, Pope Leo XIV emphasized that the world continues to suffer from division, violence, and fear of the “other”, insisting that the Church must focus on love and bridge-building, not dominance or division.
He chose the name Leo in homage to Pope Leo XIII, known for his advocacy of workers’ rights in the 19th century, signaling a clear social orientation in his papacy.
The mass drew prominent global figures, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Israeli President Isaac Herzog, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, alongside delegations from various faiths and European royals.
From the U.S., Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio represented the American delegation—marking their first official appearance at the Vatican following Pope Francis’s death.
At the close of the service, Pope Leo XIV called for a “just and lasting peace” in Ukraine and voiced deep concern for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, stating that “families and children are being left to starve.”
Since assuming the papacy, the new pope has issued several humanitarian appeals, including for the release of imprisoned journalists and expressing readiness to mediate in global conflicts—a sign of his intent for the Church to play a proactive role in world affairs.
Source: Fes News Media
