In his first appearance as pontiff, Leo XIV did not speak English. Instead, he addressed the crowd in Italian and Spanish, reflecting both his roots in Latin America and his years in the Vatican. He called for a Church that is “synodal” and “close to those who suffer,” setting a pastoral tone from the outset.
“We must be a single people, always in peace,” he said. He also paid tribute to his predecessor, Pope Francis, noting that “his weak voice in his last days still rang out to the world.” The new pope emphasised the need to “build bridges,” a phrase he repeated in his short but carefully worded address.
Leo XIV said its members must now focus on “dialogue and love” and said “charity” should be extended to all, “especially [those] who are suffering”.