Pope Leo XIV warns of ‘third world war’ in first Sunday blessing as pontiff

Pope Leo XIV, in his first Sunday blessing, called for peace in Ukraine and Gaza, echoing the sentiment of ‘Never again war’ to the crowd gathered at St. Peter’s Basilica. He reflected on the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, likening current global conflicts to a ‘third world war in pieces,’ and also extended Mother’s Day wishes to all mothers. The Chicago-born missionary, elected as the first American pope, emphasized the Church’s role in addressing modern challenges, including those posed by artificial intelligence on human dignity and workers’ rights.