Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, made headlines after posting his first tweets as the new head of the Catholic Church. In a powerful seven-part thread on May 14, he addressed global conflict, the need for peace, and the Church’s role in promoting unity.

His opening message read: “Peace be with you all!”—echoing Christ’s greeting and urging it to echo in every heart and nation. Pope Leo emphasized the value of Eastern Christian traditions, calling them a “healing balm” and highlighting their role in balancing human suffering with divine mercy.

He strongly condemned war, writing: “War is never inevitable. Weapons must fall silent… Those who sow peace will endure throughout history.” He stressed that real peace is not submission or silence, but reconciliation, forgiveness, and courage.

The tweets quickly went viral, drawing praise from around the globe. In just days, his account gained over 18.5 million followers, with one user responding: “Your message of peace is important, now more than ever.”