That was the first mass of Pope Leo XIV.
Barely elected and already in full swing: A busy schedule awaits the American Robert Francis Prevost, who was unexpectedly elected as the new Pope on Thursday. Leo XIV celebrated his first Mass as Pope with the cardinals in the Sistine Chapel on Friday at 11:00 AM. It was there that the cardinals had elected him the day before in the conclave as the successor to Pope Francis.
Public Admitted to Mass
During the solemn entrance into the magnificent chapel of the Apostolic Palace, Leo XIV wore the white vestments customary during the Easter season as well as a white mitre. His footwear was notable: he wore dark shoes instead of the red ones typical for many popes - a tradition that his predecessor Francis had already abandoned. Unlike the conclave, the public was again admitted to the Mass in the Sistine Chapel.
Pope Leo XIV addressed the cardinals present in the Sistine Chapel in his first sermon in English and off the cuff. "You have called me to bear a cross. I know that I can rely on you, that you will walk with me, and that we will continue together as a church," said the Pope. "We are a community of friends of Jesus and believers," he continued, then invoked the Holy Spirit.
Pope Leo Preached in Italian
Pope Leo XIV then delivered the sermon in Italian. In it, he emphasized the importance of the Christian faith in today's society. "Even today, the Christian faith is often seen as something absurd, as something for weak and unintelligent people; many prefer other securities such as technology, money, success, power, and pleasure," explained the Pope.
"These are environments where it is not easy to witness and proclaim the Gospel, and where believers are mocked, fought against, despised, or at best tolerated and pitied. But precisely for this reason, these are places that urgently need mission, because the lack of faith often has dramatic side effects: such as the loss of the meaning of life, the forgetting of mercy, the violation of human dignity in the most dramatic forms, the crisis of the family, and many other wounds from which our society suffers significantly," said Leo XIV.
Pope Leo on Sunday with Midday Prayer
On Sunday, he will recite the Regina Coeli prayer, the midday prayer for the Easter season, at 12:00 PM from the central loggia of St. Peter's Basilica. On Monday, the new Pope will then traditionally meet with media representatives for an audience at 10:00 AM in the Paul VI Hall.
It was still unclear when the Mass for the beginning of the pontificate will take place. It is suspected that the grand Mass on St. Peter's Square, attended by heads of state and government from around the world, will be celebrated in the middle or end of next week. The Mass for the beginning of Pope Francis's pontificate took place in March 2013, six days after his election.
The newly elected Pope Leo XIV returned to the Palace of the Holy Office on Thursday evening, where he had lived since 2023. He greeted the people in the courtyard, had his photo taken with them, and gave them all a blessing at the end. It is still unclear where the new Pope will reside. His predecessor, Francis, resided in the Vatican guesthouse Santa Marta instead of the Apostolic Palace.
Pope Leo with Decision
Meanwhile, the new Pope has already made a decision. Leo XIV expressed the wish that the leaders and members of the institutions of the Roman Curia, as well as the secretaries and the president of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State, remain in their respective offices for the time being. The Holy Father wants to take some time before making a final appointment or confirmation of office, the Vatican reported on Friday.
(APA/Red)
This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.