Orlando Catholics celebrated Mother's Day and the first Mass under Pope Leo XIV, expressing joy and optimism for the American pope's potential to unite the church.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) – With a huge and festive crowd gathered in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Leo XIV led his first Sunday recitation of the “Regina Caeli” prayer and urged all Catholics to pray for vocations, especially to the priesthood and religious life.

Tens of thousands of faithful Catholics gathered in St. Peter’s Square to watch Pope Leo XIV deliver the first

Valentina Román Calle, aged 5, in the red and white shirt of the Peruvian national soccer team, sat on her father's shoulders. The family have lived in Italy for four years and came to the square to get Leo's blessing because Valentina's older sister, 10, needs to undergo an operation.

VATICAN CITY -- Pope Leo XIV called for a genuine and just ... Leo also noted that Sunday was Mother's Day in many countries and wished all mothers, "including those in heaven" a Happy Mother's ...