VATICAN CITY (AP) —
Pope Leo XIV,
history’s first American pope, vowed Sunday to work for unity so that the Catholic Church becomes a symbol of peace in the world, offering a message of communion during
an inaugural Mass
In St. Peter’s Square, before an estimated 200,000 pilgrims, presidents, patriarchs, and princes.
Leo formally launched his papacy by embarking on his initial popemobile procession around the plaza, an iconic ritual that underscores the worldwide influence and media appeal associated with the office of the pope.
The 69-year-old Augustinian missionary
smiled and waved from the rear of the truck at people holding up American, Peruvian, and various other country’s flags, stopping to bless several infants among the spectators.
At the Mass, Leo seemed emotional as he received the two powerful emblems of the papal office: the woolen stole draped around his shoulders and the Fisherman’s Ring slipped onto his finger. It was as though the enormity of guiding the 1.4 billion-member Church finally hit home for him.
He rotated his hand to examine the ring before joining his palms together in front of him as if praying.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance, one of the final foreign dignitaries to
see Pope Francis before his death
, led the U.S. delegation honoring the Chicago-born Leo. Vance paid his respects at the Argentine pope’s tomb after arriving in Rome late Saturday.
The central theme of Pope Leo’s tenure
During his sermon, Leo expressed his desire to serve the faithful as a pope through the dual aspects of love and unity, aiming to make the Church a powerful advocate for global harmony.
I wish that our primary fervent aspiration could be for a unified church, serving as a symbol of unity and fellowship, which then acts as a catalyst for a harmonized world,” he stated. “During these contemporary times, we continue to witness excessive conflict, numerous injuries inflicted by enmity, brutality, bias, the dread of diversity, along with an economic framework that exhausts the planet’s assets and pushes aside those who are least fortunate.
Given the division within the Catholic Church both in the United States and globally, his appeal for unity held considerable weight.
During his transformative 12-year papacy, Francis stressed compassion towards the impoverished and those on society’s fringes, while showing contempt for the capitalist economic framework, frequently
isolated conservatives who pleaded for a new pope capable of calming tensions.
The election of Leo on May 8, following an impressively swift 24-hour conclave, seems to have satisfied conservative Catholics. They appear to value his disciplined and conventional approach along with his Augustinian roots, which stress fundamental tenets of Catholic belief.
Leo emphasized this point by sporting the formal red cape of the papacy, known as the mozzetta, upon receiving Vance and official governmental delegations following the Mass. While Francis opted for simplicity and skipped much of the customary pope attire, Leo’s embrace of these traditional garments delighted conservatives and traditionalists who applauded when he appeared on the loggia adorned with the red cape on May 8.
Leo did break protocol by giving his older brother, LouisPrevost, who describes himself as a political “MAGA-type,” a big embrace inside the basilica when he and his wife went forward to meet the pope.
“Let us construct a church grounded in divine love, symbolizing unity, an evangelistic church that extends its embrace to the globe, spreads the message, lets itself be stirred by historical events, and acts as yeast promoting peace among people,” Leo stated, touching upon several key aspects of Pope Francis’ leadership.
Tight security and protocol
Rigorous diplomatic etiquette governed the seating arrangement during the first Mass, with positions assigned for representatives from the United States and
Peru getting front-row seats
Thanks to Leo’s two nationalities. Vance, a Convert to Catholicism who
tangled with Francis
over the Trump administration’s
mass migrant deportation plans,
was joined by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who arrived in Rome earlier to attempt to
advance Russia-Ukraine peace talks.
The Peruvian President, Dina Boluarte, was among roughly a dozen leaders who participated in the event, alongside the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Although Russia initially intended to send its Minister of Culture, they were instead represented by their ambassador, according to various reports.
The diplomatic protocols included specific guidelines for attire as well; while many attendees opted for black clothing, several Catholic queens and princesses—such as Letizia from Spain and Charlene from Monaco—adhered to an exclusive tradition allowing them to wear white instead. Additionally, more than thirty different Christian denominations dispatched their respective groups, with the Jewish community sending a thirteen-person contingent composed largely of rabbis. Representatives from various faiths including Buddhism, Islam, Zoroastrianism, Hinduism, Sikhism, and Jainism were also present at this gathering.
Security was stringent, just like before.
The funeral for Francis on April 26,
This event attracted approximately 250,000 attendees. According to the Vatican, around 200,000 people gathered in the square and adjacent areas such as streets, parks, and smaller squares on Sunday. These locations featured large TV screens and mobile restrooms for the audience.
At the conclusion of the Mass, Leo conveyed his desire for talks aimed at bringing about
“fair and enduring peace” in Ukraine
and offered prayers for
the people of Gaza
— children, families, and elders reduced to starvation, as he pointed out. Leo did not address the hostages seized by Hamas from southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which was typically highlighted by Francis during prayers for Gaza.
Later, Zelenskyy had an official meeting with Pope Leo at the Vatican before proceeding to meet with Vance and Rubio at the U.S. residence in Rome. In a post on X, Zelenskyy emphasized the necessity of achieving “a full and unconditional ceasefire as quickly as possible” and applying diplomatic pressure on Russia until they express willingness to end the conflict.
Americans are rejoicing
Susan Hanssen, a professor who was born in Chicago and just arrived in Rome to teach, said she thought Leo’s homily about unity would resonate in the U.S. and beyond. “I think he will inspire,” she said after Mass. “What I particularly loved was the phrasing, unity within the doctrine of the faith, and then in love.”
Ethan Menning, a 21-year-old U.S. seminarian from Omaha, Nebraska, adorned himself with an American flag bought at a truck stop in Iowa as part of his celebration.
“Rome has always seemed like home for a Catholic, but now that we have one of our own sitting on the Throne of Saint Peter, it feels as though Jesus Himself becomes more within reach,” he remarked.
The two emblems of the papacy presented to Leo were the pallium stole and the scepter.
fisherman’s ring
The pallium resting on his shoulders signifies the shepherd guiding his flock, much like how the pope leads those who follow him. Meanwhile, the ring he receives serves as his official seal, echoing Jesus’ instruction to the apostle Peter to spread His message far and wide through fishing.
Another significant symbolic event during the Mass involved an act of obeisance toward Pope Leo, carried out by cardinals, bishops, priests, deacons, nuns, a Peruvian married couple, and two youths.
Gregory and Susan Hudak, residents of the Chicago area for four decades, unexpectedly ended up in Rome during a trip they scheduled in February, hoping only to possibly catch sight of the pope. Witnessing the popemobile go past them with Chicago-native Pope Leo aboard was more thrilling than seeing Michael Jordan play, remarked Gary Hudak, a former altar server sporting a Chicago Bears cap.
“I initially came here just hoping to glimpse the interior of the Sistine Chapel,” he stated. “The chance to see the Pope wasn’t planned; it was a distant dream. But encountering him turned out to be an unexpected gift, plain and straightforward.”
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Giovanna Dell’Orto and David Biller, Associated Press writers, along with AP visual journalist Isaia Monteleone, provided contributions for this report.
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The Associated Press receives assistance for its religious news coverage through the AP’s own funding mechanisms.
collaboration
Alongside The Conversation US, with support from Lilly Endowment Inc., the AP holds full responsibility for this content.
Nicole Winfield, The Canadian Press
