Pope prays for end to 'fratricidal hatred' as he celebrates anniversary with visit to Pompeii

POMPEII, Italy (AP) — Pope Leo XIV prayed Friday for political leaders to end the “fratricidal hatred” in the world, as he spent the anniversary of his election in the ancient city of Pompeii commemorating a feast day that is particularly important to him and coincided last year with the start of his pontificate.

Leo traveled by helicopter to Pompeii, near Naples, for a daylong visit to mark the May 8 feast of Our Lady of Pompeii. The date marks the day in 1876, when the cornerstone for a shrine dedicated to the Virgin Mary in Pompeii was laid.

The sanctuary is located near the excavations of the city that was buried in A.D. 79, when Mount Vesuvius erupted and spewed volcanic ash and gas across the region. While the Pompeii archaeological site draws millions of tourists each year, the sanctuary attracts Catholic pilgrims who are particularly devoted to praying the rosary.

“What a beautiful day, how many blessings the Lord wanted to give to all of us,” Leo told throngs of faithful inside the sanctuary before Mass. “I feel I am the first blessed to be able to come here to the sanctuary of the Madonna on the day of her feast and on this anniversary.”

The visit kicked off a series of day trips that Leo will be making over the next few weeks, up and down the Italian peninsula, as he gets to know better the Italian church of which he is the symbolic head as bishop of Rome.

In his homily at the sanctuary, Leo entrusted his pontificate to the Virgin Mary and prayed for peace.

“We cannot resign ourselves to the images of death that the news presents to us every day,” Leo said. “May the God of peace pour out an overflowing abundance of mercy, touching hearts, soothing grudges and fratricidal hatred, and enlightening those who bear special responsibilities of governance.”

Friday marked the anniversary of the election of the former Robert Prevost as history's first U.S.-born pope. Leo had referred to the Pompeii feast day on the night of his election, when he emerged on the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica and was introduced to the world. That night, he led the faithful in the piazza below in a prayer for his pontificate.

He said then that Mary, the mother of Christ, “always wants to walk at our side, to remain close to us, to help us with her intercession and her love."

“Let us pray together for this new mission, for the whole church, for peace in the world, and let us ask Mary, our Mother, for this special grace,” Leo said then.

The Pompeii sanctuary is closely associated with the figure of St. Bartolo Longo, who founded the basilica and is venerated especially in Italy for his charitable works for orphans, prisoners and other marginalized people. Pope Francis had approved the miracle necessary for Longo’s canonization from his hospital room, just a few weeks before he died, and Leo made him a saint in October.

Leo opened his visit to Pompeii by meeting with sick and disabled people who are cared for by a charity center affiliated with the sanctuary, which Leo’s namesake, Pope Leo XIII, declared a pontifical basilica in 1901.

In his opening remarks, Leo recalled that when Longo arrived in the Pompeii valley, “he found a land plagued by great poverty, inhabited by a few very poor farmers, and ravaged by malaria and bandits.”

“He was able to see, however, the face of Christ in everyone: in the great and the small, and especially in the orphans and the children of prisoners, to whom he made the beating of God’s heart felt through his tenderness,” he said.

Leo was met by throngs of cheering Italians, some of whom had been waiting since the middle of the night to greet him. They seemed keenly aware of Leo's recent sparring with U.S. President Donald Trump over the Iran war, and said they liked what they saw.

“He doesn't let anyone intimidate him. Look at the recent issues with Trump,” said Rita Borriello, from nearby Torre del Greco. Trump criticized him, but Leo "simply answered, ‘I preach the Gospel’. I see him as a very humble pope, very close to us, a pope who entered in our hearts.”

Winfield reported from Rome.

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

Pope Leo XIV greets the faithful in front of the Pompeii Shrine during his pastoral visit in Pompeii, Italy, Friday, May 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass in front of the Pompeii Shrine during his pastoral visit in Pompeii, Italy, Friday, May 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

People show a banner reading " Thank you, Pope Leo, pilgrim of peace and unity" during Pope Leo XIV's visit in Pompeii, Italy, Friday, May 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Pope Leo XIV greets faithful during his pastoral visit in Pompeii, Italy, Friday, May 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Pope Leo XIV greets faithful during his pastoral visit in Pompeii, Italy, Friday, May 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Pope Leo XIV greets faithful during his pastoral visit in Pompeii, Italy, Friday, May 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Pope Leo XIV greets faithful during his pastoral visit in Pompeii, Italy, Friday, May 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

NEW YORK (AP) — Jasson Domínguez is headed to the injured list yet again after spraining a shoulder when he crashed into Yankee Stadium's outfield wall, opening a path for heralded prospect Spencer Jones to make his major league debut.

Domínguez was hurt eight pitches into Thursday's 9-2 win over Texas as he caught a leadoff drive to left by Brandon Nimmo. Domínguez's MRI revealed a low grade AC sprain of his left shoulder, and initial concussion tests were negative.

“That'll put him on the IL, and that could be a few weeks,” New York manager Aaron Boone said.

New York selected the contract of Jones from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Friday, when it placed Domínguez on the 10-day injured list.

A 6-foot-7 outfielder, Jones was selected by the Yankees 25th in the 2022 amateur draft.

“It's a large man that hits the ball very far,” Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger said.

Jones, 24, leads the minor leagues with 41 RBIs, batting .258 with 11 homers, 18 walks and 41 strikeouts for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He was not in the RailRiders' lineup Thursday night at Worcester.

“He's put himself in the mix,” Boone said. “The signs have been encouraging.”

Jones was hitting .195 with two homers, 10 RBIs and 21 strikeouts in 41 at-bats through April 10, but is batting .291 with nine homers, 31 RBIs and 25 strikeouts in 79 at-bats since.

“Got off to an OK start, but then hit a little snag there for about a week or so,” Boone said. ""The last three, four weeks been having a lot of consistent at-bats, the power's been there, less swing and miss."

Domínguez, 23, made a sensational debut in September 2023, hitting .258 with four homers and seven RBIs in eight games before a scan revealed a torn right UCL.

His 2024 was slowed by a strained right oblique sustained on a swing, then he struggled offensively and defensively with the Yankees last year and started this season at Scranton. He was brought up April 27 after Giancarlo Stanton strained a calf muscle.

Playing outfield for the Yankees for the second time this season after seven games as a designated hitter, Domínguez ran 81 feet to catch Nimmo's 101 mph shot. He gloved the ball 375 feet from the plate as his shoulder hit hard against a video advertising board.

Domínguez's sunglasses flew off as he fell to the warning track chest first, prompting center fielder Trent Grisham to come over as Boone jogged out to check on Domínguez along with head athletic trainer Tim Lentych, assistant athletic trainer Jimmy Downam and director of sports medicine and rehabilitation Michael Schuk.

“He seemed decent when we got out there and coherent and all that,” Boone said.

Domínguez cupped his head in his glove and sat up after about a minute. He pointed to his shoulder and craned his neck as he was being examined, then walked to a cart under his own power and was seated as the cart drove away.

“Gosh, he’s just such a good kid,” Boone said. “There’s a joy he kind of walks to every day no matter what’s going on. He’s very consistent in who he is. They love him in there. We’ve talked a lot recently about just how well he’s handled his situation here over the last four and five months.”

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New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone, right, watches as trainers and paramedics check on left fielder Jasson Domínguez after he was injured during the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers Thursday, May 7, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Yankees' Jasson Domínguez is injured while catching a ball hit by Texas Rangers' Brandon Nimmo for an out during the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, May 7, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Yankees' Jasson Domínguez is injured while catching a ball hit by Texas Rangers' Brandon Nimmo for an out during the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, May 7, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Yankees' Jasson Domínguez is injured while catching a ball hit by Texas Rangers' Brandon Nimmo for an out during the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, May 7, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Yankees' Jasson Domínguez is carted off the field after an injury during the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers Thursday, May 7, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)