Pope Leo urges unity, condemns capitalism and war at inaugural Mass

[ad_1] Pope Leo XIV referred to as for larger international unity and denounced the harms of unchecked capitalism and energy throughout his inaugural Mass in St Peter's Sq. earlier than tens of hundreds of individuals, together with state visitors, on Sunday.

"In our time, we nonetheless expertise an excessive amount of discord, too many wounds brought on by hatred, violence, prejudice, worry of others, and an financial mannequin that exploits the Earth's sources and marginalizes the poorest," mentioned the brand new pontiff on the Vatican.

Pope Leo, the 69-year-old former Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of Chicago, mentioned he hoped the Catholic Church might grow to be a drive for therapeutic and reconciliation.

The inaugural Mass marks the official starting of Leo's papacy.

Since his choice because the 267th pope by cardinals on Could 8, he has repeatedly referred to as on world leaders to work towards ending international battle. He lately supplied the Vatican as a venue for peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia.

Leo is taken into account a average bridge-builder, who can mediate between completely different camps throughout the Church. It's extensively believed that this is without doubt one of the explanation why he was chosen so surprisingly shortly by the conclave of cardinals.

In his inaugural message, Pope Leo mentioned he would work on unifying the Church - and that this cohesion might serve for example for others.

"Pricey brothers and sisters, I would love this to be our first nice want: a united Church, an indication of unity and communion that turns into the leaven of a reconciled world," he mentioned in his homily, talking in Italian.

"I come to you with worry and trembling, as a brother who needs to make himself a servant of your religion and your pleasure, and to stroll with you on the trail of God's love, who needs us all to be one household," continued Leo, who's the primary pope from the USA but additionally holds Peruvian citizenship.

In the course of the service, the pope obtained two regalia representing the papal energy: the gold signet Fisherman's Ring, which options an engraving of the Apostle Peter fishing, symbolizing Jesus' phrases that he would make Peter a "fisher of males," in addition to a lamb's wool pallium to represent the pope's function as shepherd.

Leo arrived on the ceremony within the popemobile, waving and smiling to onlookers working to catch a glimpse of the brand new chief of the Roman Catholic Church, following the dying of his predecessor, pope Francis, on April 21. Quite a few US flags, in addition to Peruvian flags, could possibly be seen within the crowd.

US Vice President JD Vance, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Peruvian President Dina Boluarte have been in attendance.