Pope Leo XIV, the first American leader of the Catholic Church, previously known as Robert Francis Prevost, gave his first Sunday blessing as pope and called for peace in the Ukraine-Russia conflict and a ceasefire in Gaza.

On his first Sunday appearance as pope, Leo XIV made a passionate appeal for peace and an end to the armed conflicts in the world, especially in Ukraine and Gaza, and cried out, “Never again war!”

Pope Leo XIV gave his first blessing as pontiff this Sunday. In his speech, he called for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine and an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. View on euronews

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.

Robert Prevost, who took the name Pope Leo XIV, led his first Mass at the Sistine Chapel. He is the first American pope in Catholic church history.