Von Ryan L. Relos

Pope Leo XIV was inaugurated as pontiff with a Mass in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on Sunday, May 18, 2025, marking the official start of his papacy. Leo, formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost, is the first American to lead the Catholic Church and the 267th Pope. He was elected on May 8, 2025, following the death of his predecessor, Pope Francis, on April 21. Pope Leo XIV paid tribute to Pope Francis during his homily, noting that his death “filled our hearts with sadness” and later stating he felt Francis’s spiritual presence during the Mass.

Prior to the ceremony, Pope Leo XIV arrived in his white Popemobile, marking the first time he had traveled in the vehicle, waving to the thousands gathered. Crowds in St. Peter’s Square and the surrounding streets swelled to an estimated 200,000 people by the end of the Mass. The atmosphere in the square was described as having a strong sense of excitement.

The solemn ceremony began inside St. Peter’s Basilica, where Pope Leo XIV prayed in silence before the tomb of the Apostle Peter. Patriarchs of the Eastern Catholic Churches in communion with Rome also participated in this moment of prayer. A liturgical procession then moved from inside the basilica to the outdoor altar in St. Peter’s Square. During the procession, the “Laudes Regiae” (“Royal Praises”), an ancient liturgical chant previously used in imperial and monarchical rites, was intoned to seek the intercession of saints for the pope’s holiness.

A central part of the inauguration rite was the presentation of the signs of the Petrine ministry. Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of the Philippines presented Pope Leo XIV with the Ring of the Fisherman. This gold ring bears an image of St. Peter in his boat and the pope’s name. It is a symbol of his role that dates back to Saint Peter, who was a fisherman, and also has the practical function of sealing documents. Pope Leo XIV will wear this ring throughout his papacy. He also received the pallium, a strip of lambswool. This element, made of sheep’s wool, represents the pope as a shepherd who carries the flock, or the Church, on his shoulders. Following the presentation of these symbols, a representation of the College of Cardinals approached the Holy Father to express their fidelity, obedience, and ecclesial communion.

During his first homily as pontiff, delivered during the inaugural Mass, Pope Leo XIV spoke of the “remarkable times” during which he was elevated and stated he would rise to the task “with fear and trembling,” while serving with “faith and joy”. He noted the feeling of the working of the Holy Spirit during the papal conclave that elected him, which brought the cardinals into harmony “like musical instruments”. He described being chosen “without any merit of [his] own” and coming to the people “as a brother, who desires to be the servant of [their] faith and [their] joy”.

The Pope highlighted that there is “too much discord, too many wounds caused by hatred, violence, prejudice, the fear of difference, and the economic paradigm that exploits the Earth’s resources and marginalizes the poorest”. He called for the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics to embrace a “missionary spirit,” rather than closing themselves off or feeling “superior to the world”. He emphasized that “we are called to offer God’s love to everyone,” seeking unity that “does not cancel out differences but values the personal history of each person and the social and religious culture of every people”.

The Mass also featured the proclamation of the Gospel in both Greek and Latin, symbolizing the pope’s role as pastor for both Eastern and Latin Catholics.

The event had a clearly universal and diplomatic character, with numerous world leaders and religious dignitaries in attendance. Notable attendees included US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and Peruvian President Dina Boluarte, whom the Pope met prior to the Mass. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was also in attendance. Vance and Zelenskyy greeted and shook hands before the Mass.

Following the inaugural Mass, Pope Leo XIV held a private audience with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his wife Olena Zelenska in the Vatican. Zelenskyy thanked the new Pope for his “support for Ukraine” and being a “clear voice in defence of a just and lasting peace”. In a prayer after the service, the Pope had noted the efforts for a ceasefire in Ukraine and stated that “the martyred Ukraine is waiting for negotiations for a just and lasting peace to finally happen”. He had previously called for an end to the war in his first days in office and offered the Vatican as a venue for potential peace talks. Pope Leo XIV also highlighted the suffering caused by war in Gaza and Myanmar in his remarks before the Regina Caeli prayer.

The beginning of the pontificate also involves the taking of canonical possession of the four papal basilicas. On May 25, Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to take possession of St. John Lateran Basilica, which is the cathedral of the bishop of Rome. This act is a reminder that the pope is the bishop of Rome and involves being received by the cathedral chapter and receiving expressions of obedience from representatives of the Diocese of Rome. He is also scheduled to take possession of St. Paul Outside the Walls Basilica on May 20, where he will pray at the tomb of the apostle to the Gentiles, and St. Mary Major Basilica on May 25, where he will venerate the “Salus Populi Romani” icon.