Pope Leo XIV officially started his reign on Sunday by reaching out to the conservatives who felt orphans under his predecessor, calling for unity, promising to preserve the heritage of the Catholic Church and not to govern as “an autocrat”.
After a first walk in the Popemobile through an estimated crowd up to 200,000 in St Peter’s Square and in the surrounding streets, Leo was officially installed as 267th Pontiff of the Roman Catholic church during an outdoor mass.
Sympathizers agitated us and Peruvian flags, with people from the two countries claiming it as the first pope of their nations. Born in Chicago, the 69 -year -old pontiff spent many years as a missionary in Peru and also has Peruvian citizenship.
Robert Prevost, an unknown parent on the world scene who has not become a cardinal two years ago, was elected Pope on May 8 after a short conclave of Cardinals who lasted barely 24 hours.
He succeeded Francis, an Argentinian, who died on April 21 after having directed the church for 12 years often turbulent during which he fought with the traditionalists and defended the poor and marginalized.
In his sermon, read in the Italian current, Leo said that as the leader of the 1.4 billion Roman Catholics in the world, he would continue Francis’ heritage on social issues such as the fight against poverty and environmental protection.
He has sworn to face “the questions, the concerns and the challenges of the world today” and, in a nod to the conservatives, he promised to preserve “the rich heritage of the Christian faith”, calling several times to unity.
Crowds sang “Viva il Papa” (living the pope) and “Papa Leone”, his name in Italian, when he agitated the Open Popemobile before his inaugural mass, which was assisted by dozens of world leaders.
Among those of the crowd on Sunday, there were many pilgrims from the United States and Peru.
Dominic Venditti, from Seattle, said that he was “extremely excited” by the new Pope. “I like how emotional and kind he is,” he said. “I love its history.”
Since having become a Pope, Leo has already pointed out key priorities for its papacy, including a warning concerning the dangers posed by artificial intelligence and the importance of bringing peace to the world and to the Church itself.
By saying that he was taking his mission “with fear and tremor”, Leo used the words “unit” or “united” seven times on Sunday and the word “harmony” four times.
“It is never a question of capturing others by force, by religious propaganda or by means of power. Instead, it is always and only a question of loving, as Jesus did,” he said, in apparently reference to a war of words between Catholics who define themselves as conservative or progressive.
The conservatives also accused Francis of having settled in a heavy manner and deplored that he depreciated their concerns and did not consider largely before making decisions.
Referring to Saint-Pierre, the 1st century Christian Apostle whose popes derive their authority, Leo said: “Peter must shepherd the herd without ever giving in to the temptation to be an autocrat, praising him on those entrusted to him. On the contrary, he is called to serve the faith of his brothers and sisters, and to them next.”
Many world leaders have attended the ceremony, including the presidents of Israel, Peru and Nigeria, the Prime Ministers of Italy, Canada and Australia, the German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and the president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.
The European Royals have also taken their place in VIP seats near the main altar, including the Spanish King Felipe and Queen Letizia.
Leo rocked a lot of their hands at the end of the ceremony and tightened his brother Louis, who had traveled from Florida.
As part of the ceremony, Leo received two symbolic elements: liturgical clothing known as Pallium, a lambolor belt representing his role as shepherd, and the “fisherman’s ring”, recalling Saint-Pierre, who was a fisherman.
The Simonial Gold Signet ring is specially sunk for each new Pope and can be used by Leo to seal the documents, although this goal has disagreed in modern times.
He shows to St Peter holding the keys to the sky and will be broken after his death or his resignation.
