VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV vowed Sunday to work for unity in a polarized Catholic Church and world, as historical past’s first American pope provided a message of therapeutic throughout an inaugural Mass in St. Peter’s Sq. earlier than an estimated 200,000 pilgrims, presidents, patriarchs and princes.
Leo formally opened his hold forth by taking his first popemobile tour by way of the piazza, a ceremony of passage that has develop into synonymous with the papacy’s world attain and mediatic draw. The 69-year-old Augustinian missionary smiled and waved from the again of the truck to folks waving U.S., Peruvian and different nationwide flags, and stopped to bless some infants within the crowd.
In the course of the Mass, Leo appeared to choke up when the 2 potent symbols of the papacy had been positioned on him — the lambswool stole over his shoulders and the fisherman’s ring on his finger — as if the load of duty of main the 1.4-billion sturdy church had simply sunk in.
He turned his hand to take a look at the ring after which clasped his arms in entrance of him in prayer.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance, one of many final overseas officers to see Pope Francis earlier than he died, led the American delegation honoring the Chicago-born Leo. Vance paid his respects at Francis’ tomb after arriving in Rome late Saturday.
In his homily, Leo mentioned that he wished to be a servant to the devoted by way of the 2 dimensions of the papacy, love and unity, in order that the church could possibly be a power for peace on the planet.
“I would like that our first great desire be for a united church, a sign of unity and communion, which becomes a leaven for a reconciled world,” he mentioned. “In this our time, we still see too much discord, too many wounds caused by hatred, violence, prejudice, the fear of difference, and an economic paradigm that exploits the Earth’s resources and marginalizes the poorest.”
His phrases echoed a few of Francis’ key priorities, however his name for unity was vital, given the polarization within the Catholic Church in the USA and past.
Francis’ radical 12-year hold forth, which emphasised take care of the poor and marginalized, and disdain for the capitalist financial system, typically alienated conservatives who begged for a brand new pope who may pacify divisions. Leo’s election on Could 8, after a remarkably fast 24-hour conclave, seems to have happy conservative Catholics who appear to understand his extra disciplined, conventional fashion and Augustinian background, emphasizing core truths of Catholic doctrine.
Leo drove that message residence by carrying the papacy’s formal crimson cape, or mozzetta, to obtain Vance and official authorities delegations after the Mass. Francis had eschewed lots of the formalities of the papacy as a part of his easy fashion, however Leo’s return to the standard garb has happy conservatives and traditionalists, who breathed a sigh of reduction when he got here out onto the the loggia carrying the crimson cape on Could 8.
However Leo did break protocol when he gave his older brother, Louis Prevost, a self-described political “MAGA-type,” a bear hug within the basilica when he and his spouse got here as much as greet the pope.
“Let us build a church founded on God’s love, a sign of unity, a missionary church that opens its arms to the world, proclaims the word, allows itself to be made restless by history, and becomes a leaven of harmony for humanity,” Leo mentioned.
Strict diplomatic protocol dictated the seating preparations on the inaugural Mass, with each the U.S. and Peru getting front-row seats because of Leo’s twin citizenship. Vance, a Catholic convert who tangled with Francis over the Trump administration’s mass migrant deportation plans, was joined by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who arrived in Rome forward of time to attempt to advance Russia-Ukraine peace talks.
Peruvian President Dina Boluarte was considered one of round a dozen heads of state who attended.
