Pope Leo XIV calls for peace and unity at inaugural Mass

It was painful to hear from the pope the word genocide or even suspicion of genocide,

said Noemi Di Segni, president of the Union of Italian Jewish Communities, which represents Italy's 25,000 Jews

No pope had ever written to an American rabbi in this way,

Marans said

Our hope is to return to the direct, frank dialogue between friends that can take place behind closed doors,

said Rabbi Joshua Stanton, who oversees interfaith initiatives for Jewish Federations of North America

It can save Jewish lives,

Rabbi Noam Marans, the American Jewish Committee’s director of interreligious affairs, told The Associated Press

The suffering of innocent non-combatants in any conflict is a tragedy,

Marans said after the Mass, echoing sentiments from other Jewish leaders who expect Leo to strike a different tone than Francis even while maintaining political criticism

We both stand for something much bigger than geopolitical entities,

Sideman added of the Israeli and Vatican states

Francis was a great friend, but not always considerate,

he added, while Leo has shown “greater sensitivity” in his statements about the war

There is going to be extra weight because he is American. I think there's going to be a lot of extra eyes, and maybe criticisms,

said Sophia Tripp, a 20-year-old student visiting from Leo's hometown of Chicago

I think he will inspire,

she said after the Mass

We are called to offer God's love to everyone, in order to achieve that unity which does not cancel out differences but values the personal history of each person and the social and religious culture of every people,

he said

Rome always felt like home for a Catholic, but now coming here and seeing one of our own on the throne of Peter ... it almost makes Jesus himself more accessible,

he said

Originally, the only hope I had coming here was to see the inside of the Sistine Chapel,

he said

JD Vanceu.S. Vice President

Certainly our prayers go with him as he starts this very important work,

Vance said at a meeting with EU chief Ursula von der Leyen and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni

I was chosen, without any merit of my own, and now, with fear and trembling, I come to you as a brother, who desires to be the servant of your faith and your joy,

he told the masses

We thank the Vatican for its willingness to serve as a platform for direct negotiations between Ukraine and Russia,

he said

He will certainly do what he promised: knocking down walls and building bridges,

she said

The martyred Ukraine is waiting for negotiations for a just and lasting peace to finally happen,

he said

I arrived yesterday in the morning and I'm leaving in a few hours, so I don't have much time. It's very crazy because there's so many people. I wanted to see the pope."

An attendee, Michelle from Germany, told the BBC

We're on vacation, but it's great timing. We're here to see the pope's inaugural mass. It's very special. I'm glad we came early."

Joe from Missouri told the outlet

Let us build a church founded on God's love, a sign of unity, a missionary church that opens its arms to the world, proclaims the word, allows itself to be made restless by history, and becomes a leaven of harmony for humanity,

Leo said, referencing some of the themes of Francis' pontificate as well