Just days into his papacy, Pope Leo XIV has already broken with convention, delivering a first public message that struck chords far beyond the Vatican walls.
In his first Sunday noon blessing, Pope Leo XIV delivered a direct and urgent appeal to the world’s most powerful nations, calling for peace in war-torn regions and justice for the oppressed.
Cardinals gather in Vatican City as the newly elected Pope Leo XIV appears for the first time on the Vatican balcony on May 8, 2025 | Source: Getty Images
Cardinals gather in Vatican City as the newly elected Pope Leo XIV appears for the first time on the Vatican balcony on May 8, 2025 | Source: Getty Images
The address, delivered from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica, marked the new pontiff’s first public message since assuming the papacy and drew a crowd of nearly 100,000 faithful to Vatican City. “I, too, address the world’s great powers by repeating the ever-present call ‘never again war,’” Pope Leo declared, his voice echoing across the packed square.
The Pope’s message centered on two of the globe’s most volatile conflicts: Ukraine and Gaza. Drawing on the words of his predecessor, Pope Francis, Leo described today’s world as caught in a “third world war in pieces.”
“I carry in my heart the sufferings of the beloved Ukrainian people,” he said. “Whatever is possible be done to reach an authentic true and lasting peace as quickly as possible.”
He called for the release of prisoners of war and the safe return of Ukrainian children displaced by the conflict. He also praised a ceasefire recently reached between India and Pakistan — a rare point of optimism in a speech that otherwise underscored the weight of ongoing global unrest.
Newly elected Pope Leo XIV, Robert Francis Prevost / Source: Getty Images
Newly elected Pope Leo XIV, Robert Francis Prevost / Source: Getty Images
Turning to the Middle East, Pope Leo made an urgent plea for a halt to the violence in Gaza. He urged for an immediate ceasefire calling for humanitarian aid to reach civilians and for all hostages to be released. He also asked for relief to be extended to the exhausted civilian population.
Sunday’s appearance was rich in symbolism. From his gestures on the balcony to his deliberate invocation of unity in a fractured Catholic Church, Leo seemed intent on positioning his papacy as one of reconciliation and bold truth-telling.
Newly elected Pope Leo XIV, Robert Francis Prevost / Source: Getty Images
Newly elected Pope Leo XIV, Robert Francis Prevost / Source: Getty Images
The tone he set appears to extend beyond global conflict. Even before his election, Pope Leo’s past statements and actions were being closely scrutinized. In the hours after the white smoke cleared, a series of old tweets resurfaced, revealing sharp criticism of U.S. political figures — notably JD Vance, now a key figure in the Trump administration.
One tweet read, “JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn’t ask us to rank our love for others,” linking to an article from National Catholic Reporter. Another tweet criticized Vance’s interpretation of religious duty in the context of immigration.
Newly elected Pope Leo XIV, Robert Francis Prevost / Source: Getty Images
Newly elected Pope Leo XIV, Robert Francis Prevost / Source: Getty Images
The Pope’s personal stance on immigration was further highlighted by comments from his brother, Mr. Prevost, who shared insight into Leo’s private convictions.
“I don’t think he’ll stay quiet for too long if he has something to say,” Prevost noted. “I know he’s not happy with what’s going on with immigration. I know that for a fact. How far he’ll go with it is only one’s guess, but he won’t just sit back. I don’t think he’ll be the silent one.”
Newly elected Pope Leo XIV, Robert Francis Prevost / Source: Getty Images
Newly elected Pope Leo XIV, Robert Francis Prevost / Source: Getty Images
We previously reported that during live news coverage centering around the election of Pope Leo XIV, ABC News’ Alex Perez had a chance to speak with Pope Leo’s brother, John Prevost, in Chicago.
While conversing, Prevost revealed a childhood story that indicated his brother would be the next pontiff. He also shared details from the last conversation he had with Pope Leo right before the Conclave.
Fan comment about the story John Prevost shared about his brother, Pope Leo, posted on May 8, 2025. | Source: Facebook/ABC News
Fan comment about the story John Prevost shared about his brother, Pope Leo, posted on May 8, 2025. | Source: Facebook/ABC News
“The interesting thing — I don’t know how many people will find it interesting,” Prevost began, “But when he was in first grade, a woman across the street that we used to play with the kids […] a woman down the street said he would be the first American Pope.” Perez, surprised, echoed, “First grade!?” to which Prevost confirmed, “Uh-huh!”
Pope Leo’s brother, John Prevost, chatting with ABC News reporter Alex Perez about the childhood story, posted on May 8, 2025. | Source: YouTube/ABC News
Pope Leo’s brother, John Prevost, chatting with ABC News reporter Alex Perez about the childhood story, posted on May 8, 2025. | Source: YouTube/ABC News
Still expressing shock, Perez questioned, “A random woman told him he would be the pope?” Prevost then clarified, “Well, they were neighbors, we knew them, but, yes! He knew at that age he was going to be a priest.”
What might have once been dismissed as a passing comment from a local woman now feels eerily pointed, casting Pope Leo’s early years in a new, almost fated light.
Alex Perez reiterating what John Prevost had shared with him. | Source: YouTube/ABC News
Alex Perez reiterating what John Prevost had shared with him. | Source: YouTube/ABC News
The story quickly made its way across social media platforms, where astonished viewers reacted with a mix of reverence and disbelief.
One netizen remarked, “Wow! He knew from first grade he would be a priest! He was definitely called to that life. And the neighbor’s prediction came true, impressive!”
Echoing the same amazement, another person stated, “Wow, he’s only in 1st grade and already being prophesied to become a pope. That’s mind-blowing 
,” while someone else observed, “Wow 
, a prophecy on his papacy was dropped as a child.”
Others seemed just as captivated by the unnamed neighbor’s foresight. “need to know if that woman is still around to see this bc that’s wild to predict someone is going to be pope when they’re 7 [sic],” one person commented.
Pope Leo greeting onlookers gathered for him as he granted his Urbi et Orbi blessing, posted on May 8, 2025. | Source: Instagram/vaticannews
Pope Leo greeting onlookers gathered for him as he granted his Urbi et Orbi blessing, posted on May 8, 2025. | Source: Instagram/vaticannews
Another added, “WOW! That woman had the gift of prophecy!” Several netizens were touched by the idea that Pope Leo had understood his spiritual path so early on.
Some expressed admiration over how he recognized his calling at such a young age, with many describing the moment as “surreal” and “amazing.”
Pope Leo delivering his Urbi et Orbi blessing. | Source: Instagram/vaticannews
Pope Leo delivering his Urbi et Orbi blessing. | Source: Instagram/vaticannews
As the world continues to process the historic election of Pope Leo, his brother admitted he is still catching up. “To be honest, there hasn’t been a chance to think about it because it’s been constant phone calls, emails, messages, interviews,” he told Perez. “So I don’t think it’s really sunk in. It’s kind of surreal.”
Still, that surreal feeling is laced with immense pride. “This is an awesome thing in the sense that the first — not only pope but first American pope, pope from Chicago — and a relative,” marveled Prevost.
Initially, he didn’t believe it could happen. “To tell you the truth, no,” he admitted when asked if he’d expected Pope Leo’s election. “I kept hearing there will never be an American pope just because of politics, and the United States has too much world power now.”
Pope Leo waving from the balcony of the Vatican in Vatican City on May 8, 2025. | Source: Getty Images
Pope Leo waving from the balcony of the Vatican in Vatican City on May 8, 2025. | Source: Getty Images
Still, after hearing the new pontiff had made it into a shortlist of three people, his hope began to stir. “Then I thought, well, this could happen,” shared Prevost.
He also said the first glimmers of possibility came “maybe like a day or two after” Pope Francis died, when speculation around the likely frontrunners began.
Pope Leo posing for photos when he was elected as a cardinal in Vatican City on September 30, 2023. | Source: Getty Images
Pope Leo posing for photos when he was elected as a cardinal in Vatican City on September 30, 2023. | Source: Getty Images
He even spoke to his brother the Tuesday before the Conclave. “He just kept saying, ‘No, that’s not true. That’s not true.’ So he’s pushing it away, hoping that it would go away — and it didn’t go away,” Prevost divulged.
The pope’s brother also recalled the exact moment he found out about the news — he was reading a book when a text came through — “There was a white smoke.” He hurried to turn on the television and called his niece.
“We just sat there and watched it,” he recounted. “Then she said, ‘Look, the curtains are moving.’ I said, ‘Well, something’s coming up.’” When the announcement was made, his niece screamed.
“I said, ‘Oh my gosh, here we go.’ And then it has been nonstop — phones, everything else,” remarked Prevost. Reflecting on what kind of leader Pope Leo might be, Prevost described him as “a regular; a run of the mill person.” He attributed the pontiff’s grounded nature to his missionary training in South America.
“He will be looking out for the disenfranchised; he will be looking out for the poor; he will be looking out for those that don’t have a voice,” Prevost asserted. “So I think he will follow […] Saint Francis — pardon me, Pope Francis.”
While some might wonder how different Pope Leo will be from his predecessor, Prevost speculated there might not be much of a shift.
“I don’t know that you’ll see a big difference,” he noted, mentioning that the two had met years ago. According to Prevost, the late pope was in Argentina, while Pope Leo was in Peru at the time. “They kind of believed in the same issues,” highlighted Prevost.
Pope Leo and the late Pope Francis after Pope Francis appointed him as a then-new cardinal during the Ordinary Public Consistory for the Creation of new cardinals in Vatican City on September 30, 2023. | Source: Getty Images
Pope Leo and the late Pope Francis after Pope Francis appointed him as a then-new cardinal during the Ordinary Public Consistory for the Creation of new cardinals in Vatican City on September 30, 2023. | Source: Getty Images
As for their upbringing, Prevost shared that while Pope Leo spent most of his later youth away in religious institutions — from an Augustinian seminary in Holland, Michigan, to Villanova University — their early years in Chicago were filled with ordinary childhood memories.
“He wasn’t home a lot of [sic] summer vacations,” he recalled. “He was home growing up as a kid. I think we were just regular kids and didn’t really think about that kind of stuff.”
Pope Leo attends a courtesy visit of relatives following a consistory for the creation of 21 new cardinals in Vatican City. | Source: Getty Images
Pope Leo attends a courtesy visit of relatives following a consistory for the creation of 21 new cardinals in Vatican City. | Source: Getty Images
Despite the magnitude of what lay ahead, the final conversation between the brothers before the Conclave was, in many ways, refreshingly ordinary — even playful. “First, we do ‘Wordle’ — this is a regular thing, ok?” Prevost explained. “Then we do ‘Words with Friends,’ it’s something to keep his mind off life and the real world.”
What followed was a lighthearted exchange aimed at easing the tension of the moment. “I said, ‘Well, do you have your red socks?’” he disclosed. “And then just that kind of stuff.”
John Prevost speaking about the last conversation he had with Pope Leo before the Conclave, posted on May 8, 2025. | Source: TikTok/@nbcnews
John Prevost speaking about the last conversation he had with Pope Leo before the Conclave, posted on May 8, 2025. | Source: TikTok/@nbcnews
In an effort to bring some levity to the gravity of the days ahead, Prevost even brought up a recent film — “I said, ‘Well, are you ready for this? Did you watch the movie ‘Conclave’ so you know how to behave?’”
As it turns out, Pope Leo had just finished watching it. “So, he knew how to behave,” Prevost laughed. These seemingly trivial moments — word games, teasing questions, movie references — were, in truth, a brother’s quiet way of helping another shoulder the weight of history.
“I wanted to take his mind off of it, and you know, laugh about something,” Prevost mentioned. “Because this is now an awesome responsibility.”
As the world turns its eyes toward the Vatican, major media outlets like CNN have provided continuous coverage of this historic papal transition. In the hours following the announcement, their reporting has spotlighted key milestones and global reactions tied to Pope Leo’s election.
CNN emphasized the significance of the moment, noting that Cardinal Robert Prevost — now Pope Leo XIV — has become the first U.S.-born pontiff in the history of the Catholic Church. His inaugural address was delivered from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica before a crowd of tens of thousands.
In his brief remarks, Pope Leo paid homage to his predecessor, the late Pope Francis, and called for global unity and peace.
Coverage has also highlighted the new pontiff’s unique background. At 69, Pope Leo brings with him a wealth of international experience. Born and raised in Chicago, he spent decades serving as a missionary in South America and later held Peruvian citizenship while acting as a bishop.
He also oversaw one of the Vatican’s most influential departments — the one responsible for appointing bishops. The response from the international community has been swift and celebratory.
CNN reported a cascade of congratulatory reactions from world leaders, including a statement from U.S. President Donald Trump, who dubbed the moment “a great honor for the country.” World leaders have also expressed optimism about collaborating with the new pope on pressing global challenges.
The Vatican officially confirmed the historic news on May 8, 2025, through a succinct yet momentous press release shared by Vatican News.
The statement reads, “‘Peace be with all of you!’ — the very first words spoken by Pope Leo XIV. The Conclave has elected Robert Francis Cardinal Prevost as the 267th Bishop of Rome. The new pope was announced to the waiting crowds by Cardinal Protodeacon Dominique Mamberti.”
Cardinal Mamberti delivered the formal announcement from the central loggia of Saint Peter’s Basilica, proclaiming the traditional declaration that echoed across the square — “I announce to you a great joy: We have a Pope.”
His election was revealed with the timeless formula, Habemus Papam, signaling to the city of Rome and the world beyond that a new chapter in Church history had begun.
Vatican News also shared noteworthy photographs of Pope Leo as he stepped forward to greet the faithful for the first time.
Standing beneath the centuries-old balcony of Saint Peter’s, he offered his Urbi et Orbi blessing — a solemn and sacred tradition that marked not just the beginning of his papacy, but also a deeply symbolic moment of unity, hope, and spiritual renewal for Catholics worldwide.
