From the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, the newly elected Pope Leo XIV delivered his first official address to a sea of pilgrims and faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square, offering a message of peace, unity, and hope.
“Peace be with you!” he declared, echoing the greeting of the Risen Christ. The pope emphasized that this peace, “unarmed and disarming,” should enter every heart, home, and nation, as he set the tone for his papacy.
In a speech rich with humility and spiritual symbolism, Pope Leo XIV paid tribute to his predecessor, Pope Francis, recalling his “weak but courageous voice” and his Easter blessing to the world. “God cares for us, God loves all of us, and evil will not prevail,” Pope Leo XIV said, calling on the faithful to trust in God’s love and move forward united.
Identifying himself as a son of Saint Augustine, the former bishop of Chiclayo in Peru invoked the spirit of service and community: “With you I am a Christian and for you a bishop.” He also offered heartfelt thanks to the College of Cardinals for electing him and pledged to walk with the global Church in peace and justice.
Pope Leo XIV called for bridge-building through dialogue and unity, urging the Church to be open and missionary: “Help us too, then help each other to build bridges… uniting all of us to be one people always in peace.”
He addressed special greetings to his former diocese in Chiclayo, acknowledging their faith and support, and turned to the people of Rome and the world with a vision of a synodal Church — one that “walks” together, especially with those who suffer.
Concluding his address, Pope Leo XIV reminded the faithful of the day’s Marian significance, the Supplication to Our Lady of Pompeii. He called on the Virgin Mary’s intercession and invited all to join him in prayer: “Let us pray together for this new mission, for the whole Church, for peace in the world…”
