Overview

• Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost of Chicago, officially began his papacy with an inaugural Mass attended by 200,000 people in St. Peter's Square.
• As the first American pope, Leo XIV received traditional symbols of the papacy, including the Fisherman’s ring and the lamb’s wool pallium, during the ceremony.
• World leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, U.S. Vice President JD Vance, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, were among the dignitaries present for the event.
• In his homily, Leo XIV called for unity within the Church, condemned economic systems that exploit the poor and the planet, and urged peace in conflict zones like Ukraine and Gaza.
• The 69-year-old pontiff highlighted the Church’s mission as a force for harmony and inclusion, pledging to address global challenges such as social inequality and environmental degradation.