Asunción, Agencia IP.- The President of the Republic, Santiago Peña, and First Lady Leticia Ocampos participated last Sunday in Pope Leo XIV’s enthronement at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. After, they formally greeted the new Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church.
Around 150 delegations and 200,000 faithful gathered in the square for the mass that began a new papacy. Pope Leo XIV received the symbols of papal authority: the pallium and the Ring of the Fisherman. He delivered a call for unity within the Church and peace in a world marked by «too much hatred and prejudice.»
President Peña shared that he used the brief encounter to convey to the Holy Father the affection of the Paraguayan people, «a Marian people, deeply devoted to the Virgin of Caacupé and predominantly Catholic, who are eagerly awaiting his visit,» he stated.
The Paraguayan Head of State was accompanied by the President of the Chamber of Deputies, Raúl Latorre.
In his first homily, Pope Leo XIV expressed sorrow over the situation in «troubled Ukraine,» the Vatican announced he would meet with President Zelensky during the day.
He also dedicated a few words to the children, families, and elderly «who are going hungry» in Gaza.