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VATICAN CITY — <\/span>VATICAN CITY (AP) \u2014 Pope Leo XIV<\/a>, history’s first American pope, called for a renewed commitment to peace on Sunday as he marked the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks on his home country.<\/p>\n The Chicago-born pope made his first public comments to commemorate the anniversary<\/a>, speaking in English at the end of his traditional Sunday noon blessing from his studio window overlooking St. Peter\u2019s Square.<\/p>\n \u201cTwo days ago marked the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the United States of America,\u201d Leo said. \u201cI renew my prayers for those who lost their lives and for those who continue to bear the wounds of that tragic day.\u201d<\/p>\n He added that \u201cat a time when conflict and violence afflict so many of our brothers and sisters, I invite everyone to pray that the Lord will bestow his gift of peace upon the world.\u201d<\/p>\n Speaking in Italian he added: \u201cThe memory of the tragic events of 25 years ago pushes us to renew our commitment to peace, above all with prayer.\u201d<\/p>\n On Sept. 11, 2001, the former Robert Prevost was in Rome attending a big assembly of his Augustinian religious order. At the time, he was the Chicago provincial leader of the Augustinians. Prevost was elected superior of the entire order on Sept. 14, his birthday, a position he held for two consecutive terms until 2012.<\/p>\n Vatican News on Sunday republished excerpts of his first homily as superior, delivered on Sept. 21, 2001. In it, the future American pope reflected on the attacks.<\/p>\n \u201cWe cannot fail to remember the tragic events that shook the United States on Sept. 11,\u201d he said in his homily. \u201cThe violence that the world witnessed last week in the United States is a tragic expression of a series of problems that are becoming increasingly acute everywhere. <\/p>\n “Hatred and violence will continue to grow as long as so many people are forced to live in extreme poverty and are oppressed by so many forms of injustice.\u201d<\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP\u2019s collaboration<\/a> with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n