Pope Leo XIV sends a forceful message to world leaders in his first Sunday address following ‘anti-Trump’ charges
Pope Leo XIV urged international leaders to promote peace in his first Sunday benediction at the Vatican since taking office.
The 69-year-old applauded India and Pakistan’s ceasefire accord while calling for ‘permanent peace’ between Ukraine and Russia, as well as a truce in Gaza.
On Thursday (May 8), Pope Francis’ successor was formally announced: Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, whose papal name is Pope Leo XIV, will take over as leader of the Catholic Church.
In his first Sunday midday blessing as pontiff, from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, he said to the people below, “Never again war.”
Pope Leo called for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, as well as an immediate cease-fire in Gaza, with prisoners released and humanitarian help distributed.
Recalling the conclusion of World War II 80 years ago, Pope Leo referenced Pope Francis in decrying the number of wars raging throughout the world today, calling it a ‘third global war in pieces.’
Pope Leo also mentioned that Sunday is Mother’s Day in many countries and wished all moms a happy Mother’s Day, ‘including those in paradise.’
Hours before Leo was to emerge in public, St. Peter’s Plaza was filling up with pilgrims, well-wishers, and the inquisitive, accompanied by various marching bands making dramatic entries into the plaza.
His speech follows ‘anti-Trump’ charges, with many soon noticing the countless tweets and articles he has posted about President Donald Trump and his administration over the years.
What did Pope Leo say about Trump?
Most recently, Leo forwarded a tweet that reads, “As Trump and Bukele utilize Oval to Feds’ illegal deportation of a US resident, formerly an undocumented Salvadoran himself, now-DC Aux + Evelio asks, ‘Do you not see the suffering? Is your conscience undisturbed”? How can you stay quiet?”
The Independent also stated that Leo reshared a tweet that read, “There is nothing remotely Christian, American, or ethically justified about a program that separates children from their parents and imprisons them in cages. We are all responsible for the humiliation this program inflicts on us.
The newly elected pope has also criticized Trump’s vice president, JD Vance, by resharing an op-ed from the National Catholic Reporter headlined “JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn’t ask us to rank our love for others.”
The article followed Vance’s comments to Fox News in February of this year, in which he stated, “There is a Christian concept that you love your family first, then your neighbor, then your community, then your fellow citizens, and then prioritize the rest of the world.”
“A lot of the far left has completely inverted that.”
Leo’s apparent disapproval of Trump’s policies extends even farther back, with one post from ten years ago.
In July 2015, Leo’s account shared a Washington Post piece written by New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan.
The article’s title is “Why Donald Trump’s Anti-Immigration Rhetoric is so Problematic.”
The rediscovered statements come shortly after Trump used Truth Social to respond to the announcement of the newly chosen pope.
What did Trump say about Pope Leo?
In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, “Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was recently appointed Pope. It is a great privilege to recognize that he is the first American Pope.
“What an exciting time and a great honor for our country.
“I’m excited to see Pope Leo XIV. It’ll be a really significant occasion!”