Pope Leo XIV formally began his reign on Sunday when he reached the conservatives who felt orphans under his predecessor, asking for unity, promising to preserve the inheritance of the Catholic Church and not govern as “an autocrat.”
After a first trip at the Popemobile through an estimated crowd of up to 200,000 in St Peter’s Square and surrounding streets, Leo was officially installed as the 267 pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church in an outdoor mass.
The supporters stirred US flags and Peruvians, with people from both countries who claim 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 relative on the world stage that only became a cardinal two years ago, was chosen Pope on May 8 after a brief conclave of cardinals who lasted just 24 hours.
It happened to Francis, an Argentine, who died on April 21 after leading 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 Italian fluently, Leo said that as leader of the 1,400 million Roman Catholics in the world, Francis’s legacy would continue on social issues such as the combination of poverty and environmental protection.
He promised to face “the questions, concerns and challenges of today’s world” and, in a wink to the conservatives, promised to preserve “the rich inheritance of the Christian faith”, repeatedly asking the unity.
The crowds sang “Viva Il Pope” (Long Live the Pope) and “Pope Leone”, his name in Italian, while stirring from the Popemobile of the head open before his inaugural mass, to which he was treated by dozens of world leaders.
Among those in the crowds on Sunday were many pilgrims from the United States and Peru.
Dominic Venditti, from Seattle, said he was “extremely excited” by the new Pope. “I like how emotional and kind it is,” he said. “I love your background.”
Since he became Pope, Leo has already pointed out some key priorities for his papacy, including a warning about the dangers posed by artificial intelligence and the importance of bringing peace to the world and the Church itself.
Saying that he was taking his mission “with fear and tremor”, Leo used the words “unity” or “united” seven times on Sunday and the word “harmony” four times.
“It is never about capturing others by force, by religious propaganda or through power. On the other hand, it is always and only a matter of love, as Jesus did,” he said, in apparent reference to a war of words between Catholics that define themselves as conservative or progressive.
The conservatives also accused Francisco of governing in a hard way and regretted that he belittled their concerns and did not consulted widely before making decisions.
Referring to St. Peter, the Christian apostle of the 1st century of whom the potatoes derive his authority, Leo said: “Pedro must guide the flock without yielding to the temptation to be an autocrat, and point him out on those who entrust him. On the contrary, he is called to serve the faith of his brothers and sisters, and walk next to them.”
Many world leaders attended the ceremony, including the presidents of Israel, Peru and Nigeria, the prime ministers of Italy, Canada and Australia, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
The European royal also took their place in the VIP seats near the main altar, including Spanish king Felipe and Queen Letizia.
Leo shook many of his hands at the end of the ceremony and hugged his brother Louis, who had traveled from Florida.
As part of the ceremony, Leo received two symbolic items: a liturgical clothing known as a canopy, a zip belt that represents his role as a pastor, and the “fishermen’s ring”, remembering San Pedro, who was a fisherman.
The ceremonial gold seal ring is launched especially for each new pope and can be used by Leo to seal documents, although this purpose has been disconnected in modern times.
It shows San Pedro holding the keys of the sky and will break after his death or resignation.
