Pope Leo addresses major conflicts in first Sunday message

Pope Leo XIV has appealed for "no more war" in his first Sunday message to crowds in St Peter's Square since his election as pontiff.

The new pope called for an "authentic and lasting peace" in Ukraine and a ceasefire in Gaza and release of all Israeli hostages. Recalling the end of the Second World War, Leo quoted his predecessor Pope Francis as he denounced the number of ongoing conflicts as "a third world in pieces".

It is the first time the Pope has returned to the loggia, the central balcony of St Peter's Basilica, since he first appeared to the world following his election on Thursday. The crowd, which included marching bands in The Vatican for a special Jubilee weekend, erupted in cheers and music as the bells tolled.

Leo, who is the first American pope, also wished all mothers, "including those in heaven" a Happy Mother's Day, with the US among many countries celebrating the occasion on Sunday. The leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics earlier celebrated a private mass near the tomb of St Peter, the apostle who is considered the be the first pope, with the head of his Augustinian order.

The tomb, in the grottoes underneath St Peter's Basilica, also contains the tombs of past popes, including Pope Benedict XVI. Read more from Sky News:Ukraine 'ready to meet' Russia after Putin call for peace talksPakistan and India accuse each other of violating ceasefire On Saturday, Leo made a surprise stop to pray at the tomb of his predecessor Pope Francis at St Mary Major Basilica on his first outing since his election.

The 69-year-old had earlier held his first formal audience and said the Catholic Church must take the lead in facing threats to workers, such as AI. He told the cardinals who elected him the technology posed "new challenges for the defence of human dignity, justice and labour"..