Pope Leo XIV’s inauguration comes days after a marriage bombshell

Pope Leo XIV held his inauguration mass in St. Peter’s Square, where he arrived in the white Popemobile, waving to thousands of people who were there to salute him on his first day as pontiff. 

Leo, formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost, was officially installed as the head of the Catholic Church at an outdoor Mass in St Peter’s Square with world leaders and European royalty in attendance.

In his sermon, the 267th pontiff and the first American in the Catholic Church’s 2,000-year history, called for unity within the church, and said it is “with fear and trembling” that he approaches the church’s followers “as a brother”. “I would like our first great desire to be for a united church, a sign of unity and communion, which becomes a leaven for a reconciled world,” he said.

The new pope’s call for peace

Pope Leo XIV called for peace in Gaza, Myanmar, and Ukraine during a Sunday blessing at the end of his inaugural Mass in St. Peter’s Square.

Leo expressed hope for Moscow and Kiev peace negotiations to bring a “just and lasting peace” in Ukraine and offered prayers for the people of Gaza, children, families and the elderly who have been “reduced to hunger.”

He also mentioned Myanmar, where “new hostilities have cut short innocent young lives and recalled Pope Francis saying that during the mass he “strongly felt the spiritual presence of Pope Francis accompanying us from heaven.”

After mass, he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, although no details from that encounter have yet been released. Pope Leo also shook Vice President JD Vance’s hand. The Catholic leader has repeatedly criticised the vice president and Donald Trump for their stance on immigration.

The pontiff thanked the 200,000 people and numerous delegations attending the Eucharist, expressing his gratitude to the representatives of nations, Churches, and various religions, the Vatican News reported.

“In the joy of faith and communion, we cannot forget our brothers and sisters who are suffering because of war,” said Pope Leo.

The union between a man and a woman

On Friday, People Leo told Vatican diplomats meeting with him that “the family is founded on the stable union between a man and a woman,” reinforcing Catholic doctrine that defines marriage as a sacred bond between one man and one woman.

His statement is in line with his comments in 2012 when, as the head of the Augustinian order, the Rev. Robert Prevost, he criticised the “homosexual lifestyle” and the role of mass media in promoting acceptance of same-sex relationships that conflicted with Catholic doctrine. 

In 2022, however, he acknowledged Pope Francis’ call for a more inclusive church, and said he didn’t want people excluded just on the basis of their lifestyle.

He also made reaching out to LGBTQ Catholics a hallmark, insisting they are welcome in the church.