New pope offers to mediate between warring world leaders

Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday offered to mediate between leaders of countries at war, saying that he himself "will make every effort so that this peace may prevail". 

In a speech to members of the Eastern Catholic Churches, the new US pontiff also called on Christians living in the Middle East not to abandon their homes. Pope Leo XIV took over as pontiff from Pope Francis, who died on April 21 aged 88 and became head of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics last week.