Pope Leo XIV’s holds Mass through the formal inauguration of his preach in St. Peter’s Sq. attended by heads of state, royalty and strange devoted, Sunday, Might 18, 2025. | AP Picture/Alessandra Tarantino
VATICAN CITY, Holy See – Pope Leo XIV set the tone for his papacy Sunday with a name to cease exploiting nature and marginalizing the poor, earlier than an viewers together with JD Vance and tens of 1000’s of pilgrims.
Ten days after Chicago-born Robert Francis Prevost turned the primary US head of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics, he celebrated his inaugural mass in St Peter’s Sq..
The 69-year-old started the day by making his debut tour in a popemobile, standing up within the custom-made white automobile and smiling, waving and blessing the cheering crowds on the Vatican.
READ: Pope Leo XIV: This alternative of a reputation alerts dedication to social justice
Transformational drive
In entrance of dignitaries together with US Vice President Vance and Ukraine’s chief Volodymyr Zelensky, he then gave a homily calling for the Church to be a transformational drive in a world of division and hatred.
“On this our time, we nonetheless see an excessive amount of discord, too many wounds brought on by hatred, violence, prejudice, the worry of distinction, and an financial paradigm that exploits the Earth’s sources and marginalizes the poorest,” he stated.
The brand new pontiff, who spent a few years as a missionary in Peru, additionally warned in opposition to “closing ourselves off in our small teams”.
“We’re known as to supply God’s like to everybody, with the intention to obtain that unity which doesn’t cancel out variations however values the private historical past of every particular person and the social and spiritual tradition of each individuals,” he stated.
Prevost, who was made a cardinal solely in 2023 and is unknown to many Catholics, has repeatedly emphasised the significance of peace and social justice in his first few days as pope.
Inacia Lisboa, 71, a pilgrim from Cape Verde who lives in Rome, advised AFP on the Vatican on Sunday that Leo had already “entered my coronary heart”.
She stated she needed him to “pray for us all, for peace on the earth — we want it a lot”.
First US pope
Leo has made historical past as first pontiff from america, and his dwelling nation was represented on Sunday by Vance, who transformed to Catholicism in 2019, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, additionally a Catholic.
Earlier than turning into pope, Leo reposted on his private X account criticism of President Donald Trump’s administration over its method to migration and in addition pilloried Vance, however the account is not accessible.
Vance was the final world chief to satisfy with Pope Francis, the day earlier than the Argentine died on April 21 after 12 years as pontiff.
Leo’s elevation has sparked large enthusiasm in america, but in addition some consternation elsewhere {that a} nation with an already outsize political and navy function on the earth now boasts one its foremost religious leaders.
“There may be going to be additional weight as a result of he’s American, I feel there’s going to be a whole lot of additional eyes, and possibly criticisms,” stated Sophia Tripp, a 20-year-old scholar visiting from Leo’s hometown of Chicago.
However she stated she hoped he would “convey individuals collectively”, including: “We’re all human, and we must always simply all be loving to at least one one other.”
Different company on Sunday included German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Peruvian President Dina Boluarte, European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Colombia’s Gustavo Petro and a bunch of European royals additionally attended.
Italian authorities deployed 1000’s of safety officers for the occasion, alongside snipers on rooftops and anti-drone operations.
‘Worry and trembling’
Leo XIV was elected the 267th pope on Might 8 after a conclave vote of cardinals that lasted lower than 24 hours.
Succeeding the charismatic however impulsive Francis, he takes over a Church nonetheless battling the fallout of the clerical youngster abuse scandal, and attempting to adapt to the fashionable world.
Leo acknowledged on Sunday some trepidation in his new function.
“I used to be chosen, with none advantage of my very own, and now, with worry and trembling, I come to you as a brother who wishes to be the servant of your religion and your pleasure,” he stated.
Forward of the mass, Leo visited the tomb of Saint Peter — who within the Christian custom was one of many Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ, and the primary pope — positioned underneath the altar of the basilica that bears his identify.
He then obtained the pontifical emblems — the pallium, a strip of fabric worn over the chasuble, his gown and the fisherman’s ring, which is solid anew for every pope and which he’ll put on on his finger till he dies, when will probably be destroyed.
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