Pope Leo XIV was welcomed by a sea of faithful as he made his way through Via della Conciliazione aboard the popemobile to the sound of applause and chants of “Viva il Papa!”, just ahead of the inaugural mass marking the start of his papacy. St. Peter’s Square was filled with international delegations and religious leaders from across the globe.
Among the guests were EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. A strong clerical presence was also noted, with around 700 bishops and priests, more than 2,000 members of the clergy, and hundreds of deacons. There were 38 ecumenical delegations, including representatives from the Patriarchate of Constantinople and the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria.
Pope Leo was visibly moved as he received the pallium and the Fisherman’s Ring-two of the most significant symbols marking the beginning of a pontificate. The latter represents the bond between Christ and the Church, of which the Pope is both shepherd and model.
He then delivered his homily, in which he paid tribute to Pope Francis, saying, his death filled our hearts with sorrow.” Reflecting on the Conclave that elected him as successor to Peter, he noted how it responded to the questions and challenges of the modern age.
In his homily, Pope Leo once again called for peace, emphasizing that achieving it requires “a united Church.”Brothers and sisters, I would like that our first great desire be for a united church, a sign of unity and communion, which becomes a leaven for a reconciled world,” he said, in Italian.
The Pope’s words, delivered in front of world political leaders, reaffirmed the role he envisions for the Vatican: as a space for dialogue and mediation. The Holy See confirmed that the Pope will have a private meeting with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on Sunday afternoon.
