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Pope Leo XIV called for a genuine and just peace in Ukraine and an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, in his first Sunday noon blessing as pontiff that featured some symbolic gestures suggesting a message of unity in a polarized Catholic Church. I, too, address the world's great powers by repeating the ever-present call never again war,' Leo said from the loggia of St Peter's Basilica to an estimated 100,000 people below. It was the first time that Leo had returned to the loggia since he first appeared to the world on Thursday evening following his remarkable election as pope, the first from the United States. Then, too, he delivered a message of peace. Leo was picking up the papal tradition of offering a Sunday blessing at noon, but with some twists. Whereas his predecessors delivered the greeting from the studio window of the Apostolic Palace, off to the side of the piazza, Leo went to the very centre of the square and the heart of the church. He also offered a novelty by singing the .
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Sunday lauded the contribution of mothers and doctors on the occasion of Mothers' Day calling them the two pillars of life. Addressing 400 women at an event, the chief minister said, "One battle is fought at the border, carried on our soldiers' shoulders. But the other lies within society, against bad habits, unhealthy practices and negative thinking. That too, we must fight." She underlined the need to view each citizen as a national asset. "If every one of our 140 crore people works with dedication, some for their families, and some for the country, India will certainly move forward," she said. Gupta also spoke about the growing concern of obesity, especially among women, and emphasised the importance of prioritising one's health and diet. "Obesity must end. Women often focus on caring for everyone else, but during COVID-19, I realised that we must take care of ourselves first," she said. "After God, if there's anyone we place our trust in, it