In his first Regina Caeli as the newly elected Bishop of Rome, Pope Leo XIV offered a deeply pastoral and poignant reflection on Good Shepherd Sunday, calling on the faithful to pray for vocations and to embrace peace in a world increasingly marked by conflict. Speaking from the balcony at St. Peter’s Basilica, where just three days ago he was introduced to the world as the 267th Pontiff, the Pope’s message blended gentle encouragement with a forceful appeal for justice and reconciliation.

“It is a gift from God,” Pope Leo XIV said, “that the first Sunday of my service as Bishop of Rome is Good Shepherd Sunday.” Marking the fourth Sunday of Easter, the Pope drew on the Gospel of John, chapter 10, to reflect on Christ as the true shepherd—one who knows, loves, and lays down his life for his sheep.

Echoing the words of Pope Saint Gregory the Great, the Holy Father reminded the faithful that “people respond to the love of those who love them,” and called on the Church to be a welcoming home for young men and women discerning vocations.

This Sunday also marked the 62nd World Day of Prayer for Vocations, a theme Pope Leo XIV embraced wholeheartedly. He expressed the Church’s “great need” for priests and those in consecrated life, urging communities to become places of “acceptance, listening and encouragement.”

The Pope invoked the legacy of his predecessor, Pope Francis, calling on the faithful to continue welcoming and accompanying young people in their vocational journey. “Do not be afraid,” he told young men and women. “Accept the invitation of the Church and of Christ the Lord!”

Acknowledging the Jubilee of Bands and Popular Entertainment held in Rome on the same day, Pope Leo XIV greeted the pilgrims and performers who “enliven the feast of Christ the Good Shepherd.” His warm words highlighted the role of joy and culture in the life of the Church, blending the sacred with the festive spirit of pilgrimage and celebration.

After the prayer, the tone turned more somber as the Pope addressed pressing global conflicts. Reflecting on the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe, he reiterated the cry made famous by Pope Paul VI and repeated often by Pope Francis: “Never again war!”

Pope Leo XIV made specific pleas for the suffering people of Ukraine and Gaza. Calling for “an immediate ceasefire” in Gaza and urging humanitarian aid and the release of hostages, he also pressed for “an authentic, just and lasting peace” in Ukraine, with a focus on the reunification of families and the freeing of prisoners.

The Pope welcomed the recent ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan, expressing hope that ongoing negotiations would bring a lasting resolution. “But how many other conflicts there are in the world!” he lamented, entrusting his appeal to the Queen of Peace and imploring her intercession for “the miracle of peace.”

On the occasion of Mother’s Day, celebrated across Italy and many countries, the Pope offered a tender blessing: “I send a fond greeting to all mothers, with a prayer for them, and for those who are already in Heaven.”

His final words—“Thank you all, a happy Sunday to everyone!”—offered a warm and universal embrace, reinforcing a papacy already marked by humility, compassion, and a desire to walk closely with the people of God.

Regina Caeli – May 11, 2025

“Dear brothers and sisters, happy Sunday!

I consider it a gift from God that the first Sunday of my service as Bishop of Rome is Good Shepherd Sunday, the fourth Sunday of Easter. On this Sunday, we always hear proclaimed at Mass a passage from the tenth chapter from the Gospel of John, where Jesus reveals himself as the true Shepherd: who knows and loves his sheep and gives his life for them.

This Sunday also marks the World Day of Prayer for Vocations, which we have celebrated for the last sixty-two years. Rome is also hosting the Jubilee of Bands and Popular Entertainment today. I greet all these pilgrims with affection and thank them because, with their music and performances, they enliven the feast of Christ the Good Shepherd: the One who guides the Church with his Holy Spirit.

In the Gospel, Jesus says that he knows his sheep and that they listen to his voice and follow him (cf. Jn 10:27). Indeed, as Pope Saint Gregory the Great teaches, people “respond to the love of those who love them” (Homily 14:3-6).

Today brothers and sisters, I therefore have the joy of praying with you and all the People of God for vocations, especially those to the priesthood and consecrated life. The Church has such a great need for them! It is important that young men and women on their vocational journey find acceptance, listening and encouragement in their communities, and that they can look up to credible models of generous dedication to God and to their brothers and sisters.

Let us take up the invitation that Pope Francis left us in his Message for today: the invitation to welcome and accompany young people. And let us ask our heavenly Father to assist us in living in service to one another, each according to his or her state of life, shepherds after his own heart (cf. Jer 3:15) capable of helping one another to walk in love and truth. And to young people, I say: “Do not be afraid! Accept the invitation of the Church and of Christ the Lord!”

May the Virgin Mary, whose entire life was a response to the Lord’s call, always accompany us in following Jesus.

____________________

After the Regina Caeli

Dear brothers and sisters,

The immense tragedy of the Second World War ended eighty years ago, on 8 May, after having claimed sixty million victims. In today’s dramatic scenario of a piecemeal third world war, as Pope Francis stated many times, I too address the world’s leaders, repeating the ever-timely appeal: “Never again war!”.

I carry in my heart the sufferings of the beloved Ukrainian people. May everything possible be done to reach an authentic, just and lasting peace, as soon as possible. Let all the prisoners be freed and the children return to their own families.

I am deeply saddened by what is happening in the Gaza Strip: may there be an immediate ceasefire! Let humanitarian aid be provided to the stricken civil population, and let all the hostages be freed.

On the other hand, I have welcomed with satisfaction the announcement of the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, and I hope that through the upcoming negotiations, a lasting accord may be reached soon.

But how many other conflicts there are in the world! I entrust this heartfelt appeal to the Queen of Peace, so that she may present it to the Lord Jesus to obtain for us the miracle of peace.

And now I affectionately greet you all, Romans and pilgrims from various countries. I greet the members of the British and Foreign Bible Society, the group of doctors from Granada (Spain), the faithful of Malta, Panama, Dallas (Texas), Valladolid, Torrelodones (Madrid), Montesilvano, and Cinisi (Palermo).

I greet the participants in the “Let’s choose life” demonstration, the young people of the Fraternity of Blessed Mary Immaculate and Saint Francis of Assisi, of Reggio Emilia.

Today in Italy and in other countries we celebrate Mother’s Day. I send a fond greeting to all mothers, with a prayer for them, and for those who are already in Heaven.

Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers!

Thank you all, a happy Sunday to everyone!”