June 26, 2025
He also mentions the humanitarian situation in Gaza, saying people in the Palestinian enclave are being "reduced to starvation"
Pope Leo XIV, to be installed as the new Catholic leader, stressed the Church's peacemaking efforts in his first sermons
Leo will be officially installed as the new leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Roman Catholics at a Mass in St Peter's Square
He calls for an "authentic and lasting peace" in Ukraine, a ceasefire in Gaza, and the release of all Israeli hostages held by militant group Hamas
Leo says the Church must now take the lead in facing newer threats to workers, such as artificial intelligence
Despite the warm embrace of his countrymen and women, the deeply divided US Catholic Church may ultimately pose some of the most serious challenges for the new pope
One of the biggest challenges Pope Leo XIV faces is whether the Church should be more welcoming towards the LGBT community and divorcees
He is the first pope from the United States, but holds dual citizenship in Peru, where he was a missionary for decades before becoming a cardinal
