Pope Leo has called for God to inspire world leaders to reduce global tensions and hatred, delivering a message on May 8, marking the first anniversary of his papacy, one day after meeting US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the Vatican.
The pope, who has drawn criticism from US President Donald Trump over his comments on the Iran war, urged worshippers to pray that governments move away from violence and towards peace, Caliber.Az reports, citing Reuters.
Speaking during a visit to Pompei, a city near the ruins of the ancient volcanic eruption site about 245 km south of Rome, Leo said he prayed that God would “touching hearts, calming rancour and fratricidal hatreds, and enlightening those who have special responsibilities of government.”
Leo, the first American pope, held talks with Rubio on May 7 in what the Vatican described as a meeting held against a backdrop of strained relations with Washington. Trump has repeatedly criticised the pontiff on social media.
The Vatican said both sides agreed on the importance of strengthening bilateral ties, which officials described as an unusual acknowledgement of recent tensions.
The US embassy to the Holy See said on X that the discussions focused on “topics of mutual interest in the Western Hemisphere.”
Formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost, Leo was elected by the College of Cardinals on May 8, 2025, succeeding Pope Francis as leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.
Having served for years as a missionary and bishop in Peru, he initially kept a low profile but has recently taken a more vocal stance against war and authoritarianism.
In his address in Pompei, the pope warned that global peace is “endangered by international tensions and by an economy that prefers the arms trade to respect for human life,” urging people not to become desensitised to war.
By Bakhtiyar Abbasov
