VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Leo XIV affirmed Friday that the family is established as the “stable relationship between man and woman,” and that children and the elderly enjoy dignity as creatures of God, articulating clear Catholic teaching on marriage and abortion at the beginning of his pontificate.

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Leo, the first American pope, also called for the revitalization of multilateral diplomacy and the promotion of interreligious dialogue in the pursuit of peace. This was the first meeting with the Vatican’s diplomatic corps. The meeting was private, but the Vatican published the text prepared by Leo and those of the members of the diplomatic corps. Family Vacation Packages

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The ceremony is part of the protocol requirements following the conclave, allowing the new Pope to greet world government representatives before his formal investiture Mass this Sunday. The Holy See is a sovereign state of international law, maintains diplomatic relations with more than 180 countries, and enjoys observer status at United Nations bodies.

Leo, a member of the religious order of Augustia, has emphasized peace as the priority of his papacy, from the first words he spoke in the lodge of St. Peter’s Basilica after his election on May 8: “Peace be with you all.”

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In his comments, he stated that the pursuit of peace was one of the pillars of the papacy. He insisted that peace is not simply the solution to conflict, but rather requires work, from the creation of a new world to the manufacture of weapons and the careful choice of words.

“Because words, and not only weapons, can hurt and even kill.”

He said it is the responsibility of governments to build peaceful societies “above all by investing in the family, based on the stable relationship between man and woman.”

Furthermore, no one is exempt from making efforts to guarantee respect for the dignity of all people, especially the most fragile and vulnerable. From workers to the elderly, from the sick to employees, citizens and migrants alike, he affirmed.

Pope Francis strongly reaffirmed the fundamental Catholic teaching that opposes abortion and pregnancy, saying it was evidence of the current “lack of faith.” But he also made outreach to LGBTQ+ Catholics a hallmark, insisting that they are welcome in the Church. He overturned the Church’s teaching that challenges marriage as a same-sex relationship and homosexual acts, calling them “tripartitely disordered.”

As leader of the Antichristian order, the Rev. Robert Prevost in 2012 criticized the “homosexual lifestyle” and the media’s role in promoting acceptance of same-sex relationships, which contradicted Catholic teaching. A decade later, during the papacy of Francis, he acknowledged his call to the more inclusive church, saying he did not want people excluded solely because of their lifestyle choices.