There is a party air in St. Peter’s Square. The musical bands gathered in Rome for their jubilee parades. From Piazza Cavour to the colonnade fill the air of notes and colors. Pope Leo XIV, at 12, overlooks punctual from the loggia of blessings, welcomed by the waverio of the flags and banners. He is his first queen Caeli from the election. “Dear brothers and sisters, good Sunday!” He begins. “I consider a gift from God, he immediately underlines that this” first Sunday of my service as bishop of Rome is that of the good shepherd, the fourth of Easter time “.
A Sunday in which, for “sixty -two years, the world day of prayer for vocations has been celebrated”. And the Pope underlines his “joy of praying with you and with all the people of God for vocations, especially for those to the priesthood and religious life. The Church needs it so much! And it is important that young people and young people find, in our communities, welcome, listening, encouragement in their vocational path, and that they can count on credible models of generous dedication to God and the brothers ». The square applauds when Leo XIV invites us to make “our invitation that Pope Francis left us in his message for today: the invitation to welcome and accompany young people. And we ask the Celeste Father to be for each other, each based on their own state, shepherds “according to his heart”, capable of helping us each other to walk in love and truth “. And still explodes the applause to the words: «To the young I say:“ Don’t be afraid, accept the invitation of the Church and of Christ the Lord“»
Then he sings the Queen Caeli and prays the Virgin Mary.
After the Marian prayer, Pope Leo’s thought is all for peace. It remarks the fact that on May 8, the day of its election, it is the day on which the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War that made “60 million victims” is remembered. “Never again the war!” He says convinced by addressing the powerful of the world remembering “the dramatic scenario of a third world war in pieces, as Pope Francis said several times”. And then he explains that “I carry the suffering of the heart in my heartLoved Ukrainian people, they do everything possible to reach an authentic, just and lasting peace as soon as possible, all prisoners and children can return to their families “. At the same time “I deeply grieving what happens in the Gaza Strip. Turn on the fire immediately, humanitarian rescue of the exhausted civilian population and all the hostages are freed ».
He also underlines some glimmer of hope. “I welcomed instead with satisfaction,” he says, «The announcement of the ceased the fire between India and Pakistan and I hope that through the next negotiations it can soon reach a durable agreement. But how many other conflicts are in the world! ». And then it entrusts Mary, Queen of Peace “this heartfelt appeal so that she is the one who introduces him to Jesus to obtain the miracle of peace”.
Finally, it does not forget to greet the mothers, on the day of their party “with a prayer for them and for those who are already in heaven”.
