Overview

• Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Prevost in Chicago, officially took up his role as leader of the global Catholic Church during a Mass attended by an estimated 250,000 pilgrims.
• The ceremony included traditional rites, with Pope Leo receiving the pallium and fisherman’s ring, symbolizing his authority and pastoral mission.
• Dignitaries from 151 delegations, including U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, were present for the event.
• The pope took his first popemobile ride, greeting the faithful and blessing babies as crowds waved flags from the U.S., Peru, and other nations.
• The Vatican reiterated its readiness to host international peace talks, with Pope Leo calling for dialogue and reconciliation in his early remarks.