Overview

• Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, presided over his inaugural Mass in St. Peter’s Square on May 18, 2025, following his election on May 8.
• Princess Charlene of Monaco, Queen Letizia of Spain, and Queen Mathilde of Belgium wore white under the privilège du blanc, a rare Vatican tradition reserved for seven Catholic royal women.
• The privilège du blanc symbolizes historical ties between Catholic monarchies and the Church, allowing select women to wear white instead of the customary black attire required for others in the Pope’s presence.
• Queen Letizia wore a Redondo Brand tea-length dress with a lace mantilla and pearl earrings, while Princess Charlene opted for an Elie Saab midi dress with a white veil, showcasing the intersection of royal fashion and tradition.
• Global dignitaries, including U.S. Vice President JD Vance and royals from Spain, Monaco, Belgium, and Luxembourg, attended the Mass, underscoring the international significance of the new papacy.