By: Cecilia Butini | May 29, 2025 | Hyphenonline.com
On Sunday 18 May, Pope Leo XIV held his first official mass in St Peter’s Square, attended by some of the world’s most powerful figures including US vice-president JD Vance, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen. The next day, he met leaders from the other major religions, including Islam, Judaism, Hinduism and Buddhism.
Imam Yahya Pallavicini, vice-president of Coreis, one of the main associations representing Italy‘s Islamic community, attended both events. He described a promising start to a new papacy in which interreligious dialogue and the promotion of peaceful resolution to global conflict are urgent priorities.
“It was a very important moment that I think will have implications for our responsibilities in the world,” Pallavicini said.
