Never Again War”: India-Pakistan Ceasefire Highlighted in New Pope’s First Sunday Message

Never Again War”: Appealing to the world powers for an end to all wars, Pope Leo entered the scene on Sunday to welcome the ceasefire between India and Pakistan and hoped that negotiations would result in permanent peace, as Reuters reported. Pope Leo prayed to the Almighty, asking for a "miracle of peace" for the world.

In his very first noon prayer appeal since being elected as pontiff, Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost, was also said to have called for peace in Ukraine, a ceasefire, and the release of hostages in Gaza.

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The new pontiff was elected on May 8, taking over the papal role upon the death of Pope Francis on April 21.

Pope Leo said From the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Leo said, “Never again war!”

After three days of intense exchanges of fire, India and Pakistan on Saturday even came to some form of 'understanding' of immediate ceasefire, that is, cessation of all firing and military action, land-wise, air-wise or sea-wise. However, the ceasefire, which was announced by US President Donald Trump on Saturday, was nullified few hours later by Pakistan by an interception of drone activities in parts of Jammu, Srinagar, Punjab, and Rajasthan.

The military confrontation erupted after Islamabad launched drones and missiles towards Indian territory in response to the Operation Sindoor military strikes carried out by New Delhi on nine terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on May 7.

Operation Sindoor was launched in retaliation to the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam in which terrorists found to have links with Pakistan killed 26 civilians.

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‘Third world war in pieces’

The 69-year-old Chicago-born missionary is the 267th pope and also the first American to hold the religious leadership title.

Marking the 80th anniversary of the ending of World War II, Leo joined Pope Francis in condemning the extant conflicts as a “third world war in pieces.”

He also said that Sunday was Mother's Day in many countries, so he wished all moms a happy Mother's Day, including the ones in heaven.

The crowd broke out into laughter and music, accompanied by visiting marching bands for the special Jubilee weekend, as the bells of St. Peter's Basilica engaged in some loud chimes.

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