Pope Leo XIV Urges Peace in New Year's Vatican Ceremonies

Pope Leo XIV, the first pontiff from the United States, ushered in 2026 with appeals for global peace and a more welcoming Rome during ceremonies at St. Peter's Basilica over the New Year transition. On Thursday, January 1, he led a New Year's Day Mass attended by pilgrims and tourists on a bright, chilly morning, followed by a noontime prayer from his studio overlooking the packed piazza. Marking the Catholic Church's World Day of Peace, Leo urged prayers for nations scarred by conflict and families affected by violence. "Let us all pray together for peace first, among nations bloodied by conflict and suffering, but also within our homes, in families wounded by violence or pain," he said.

The events capped a transformative 2025 for the Vatican, highlighted by the ongoing Holy Year, a once-every-25-years celebration of Christianity that drew millions to Rome. Leo, elected in May after Pope Francis's death in April, presided over a New Year's Eve vespers service on Wednesday evening in the basilica, where he expressed gratitude for the Jubilee's impact. Inaugurated by Francis on December 24, 2024, the Holy Year served as a "powerful sign of God's plan of hope for humanity and...