Pope Leo XIV waves as he arrives in the Popemobile ahead of the inauguration Mass at St. Peter’s Square on May 18, 2025, in Vatican City.
The crowds packed into St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on May 18, 2025.
Pope Leo XIV meets with the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and his wife, Olena, after the inauguration Mass on May 18, 2025.
Pope Leo XIV is presented with the fisherman’s ring by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle on May 18, 2025, in Vatican City.
The official welcome of Pope Leo XIV, the first American Pope, as the 267th leader of the Catholic Church took place during his inaugural Mass at St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican.
The new Pontiff addressed a congregation that included key world leaders, as well as the estimated 200,000-strong crowds that surrounded the Vatican.
A sea of American flags could be seen, as people honoured the Chicago-born Pope’s roots. Other flags—such as the Palestinian one—were also pictured being held up, a sign of the global nature of Leo’s role. The Pontiff addressed the Church’s potential as a global unifier in his homily, not through “religious propaganda or by means of power” but by “loving”.
Said Pope Leo during the Mass on Sunday, May 18: “This is the missionary spirit that must animate us; not closing ourselves off in our small groups, nor feeling superior to the world. We are called to offer God’s love to everyone, in order to achieve that unity which does not cancel out differences, but values the personal history of each person and the social and religious culture of every people”.
Pope Leo, 69, is used to a global outreach that extends far beyond his native country. He holds dual citizenship from the U.S. and Peru, where he spent decades working as a missionary. The inauguration Mass was held in Italian, but featured readings in Spanish, English, Latin, and Greek.
Although, the Pope, formerly known as Robert Cardinal Francis Prevost, has presided over other services since his papal election on May 8, the formal inauguration Mass is seen as the official beginning of his papacy.
Here are some key moments from the momentous occasion:
Global leaders gathered on May 18 for the papal inauguration Mass. Representing the U.S, Vice President J.D. Vance, a practicing Catholic, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were in attendance. Both were greeted by Pope Leo after the service.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was also present, and was pictured shaking hands with the Pontiff after the Mass. The two later had a private meeting, accompanied by Zelensky’s wife, Olena.
Australia’s recently re-elected Prime Minister Anthony Albanese represented his country on the day, while Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney was also in attendance.
The British royal household sent King Charles III’s brother, Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh, to represent them.
Other notable guests included President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and Peru’s President Dina Boluarte.
Pope Francis’ 2013 inauguration Mass also featured high-profile guests, such as former U.S. President Joe Biden—the second Catholic President to serve in the United States, after John F. Kennedy—and Argentina’s former President Cristina Fernandez.
The service, much of which was delivered in Italian—featured a visit to St. Peter’s tomb inside the Basilica. Deacons gathered two objects: a fisherman’s ring and the pallium, an ecclesiastical vestment worn by the Pope.
Cardinal Deacon Dominique Mamberti placed the white wool pallium on Pope Leo’s shoulders, and Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle placed the ring on Leo’s finger. The ring honours Leo as the successor of St. Peter, the first Pope.
Pope Leo’s homily called on the Catholic Church to be a beacon of “love and unity” in a world he said is divided. With love, the Church “becomes a leaven for a reconciled world”.
Said Pope Leo to the congregation: “In this our time, we still see too much discord, too many wounds caused by hatred, violence, prejudice, the fear of difference, and an economic paradigm that exploits the Earth’s resources and marginalises the poorest. For our part, we want to be a small leaven of unity, communion, and fraternity within the world”.
He professed that “this is the hour for love” and if the whole world maintained this charge “would not every conflict cease and peace return?”
Towards the end of the Mass, Pope Leo prayed for “those who suffer on account of war” including people in Gaza, where he said “the surviving children, families, and elderly are reduced to starvation”. He also made reference to the Russia-Ukraine war, and said, “Ukraine awaits negotiations for a just and lasting peace”.
