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Pope Leo XIV begins papacy with historic Mass at St Peter's Square
Pope Leo XIV officially launched his papal mission on Sunday with a grand inaugural Mass held at St Peter's Square, attended by tens of thousands of Catholics and global dignitaries. Among them were US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, marking a historic moment for the United States as it celebrates the first American to become pope.
Ten days after being elected by the College of Cardinals, the former Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost—known for his humility and missionary work in Peru—commenced his leadership of over 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide. At 69 years old, the Chicago native took his first ride through the crowd in the iconic popemobile before beginning the religious ceremony.
The Mass began at 10:00 a.m. local time, featuring traditional Catholic rites. Pope Leo received the papal ring and the pallium, both symbols of his authority, before delivering a homily expected to outline the principles of his papacy. He emphasized messages of peace and social justice, themes that have characterized his first public appearances since his election.
The celebration also saw a mix of solemnity and lightheartedness, as Pope Leo, a fan of tennis, welcomed world number one Jannik Sinner for a brief visit.
High-profile international figures filled the Vatican for the occasion, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and leaders from Canada, Israel, Colombia, and Argentina. Security in Rome was heightened with extensive police presence, rooftop snipers, and anti-drone systems.
Leo XIV was elected as the 267th pope on May 8, following a swift conclave. He steps into a role once held by the charismatic yet controversial Pope Francis, and inherits a Church striving to recover from ongoing challenges, including clerical abuse scandals and evolving global issues.
As part of the ceremony, Pope Leo visited the tomb of Saint Peter beneath the basilica altar. From there, he processed into the square, accompanied by clergy and cardinals, before blessing the massive crowd and greeting world leaders. It remains unclear whether private meetings with state representatives will follow.
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