Thousands of faithful of different religions at the inaugural mass of the pontificate of Leo XIV, ten days after his election in the Conclave . Among the 156 official delegations present, the Italian one sees in the front row President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Alongside the Peruvian delegations - with the President of the Republic Ercilia Boluarte Zegarra - and the United States - with Vice President James D. Vance and Secretary of State Antonio Rubio -, the two nations of which Robert Francis Prevost is a citizen. Also present was the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Live:
Applause for Peace – St. Peter’s Square came alive when Leo XIV greeted the pilgrims and remembered Pope Francis during his homily. One of the warmest applauses that arose was when Prevost pronounced the word peace. At that moment, enthusiasm was unleashed, both in the square and on Via della Conciliazione. A topic that has struck a chord, hearing the faithful, since his inauguration.
The Pope's homily - " I have been chosen without any merit and, with fear and trembling, I come to you as a brother who wants to be a servant of your faith and your joy, walking with you on the path of the love of God, who wants us all united in one family ." And again: "Love and unity: these are the two dimensions of the mission entrusted to Peter by Jesus." "If the rock is Christ, Peter must shepherd the flock without ever giving in to the temptation to be a solitary leader or a chief placed above others, making himself master of the people entrusted to him." Finally, the hope: " This, brothers and sisters, I would like to be our first great desire: a united Church, a sign of unity and communion, that becomes a leaven for a reconciled world. In our time, we still see too much discord, too many wounds caused by hatred, violence, prejudice, fear of those who are different, by an economic paradigm that exploits the Earth's resources and marginalizes the poorest. And we want to be, within this dough, a small leaven of unity, of communion, of brotherhood."
He spoke of the "tormented Ukraine", which "finally awaits negotiations for a just and lasting peace", and of Gaza, where "children, families and the elderly are reduced to hunger" . He recalled Bergoglio: " I strongly felt the spiritual presence of Pope Francis who accompanies us from Heaven ". The Vatican then announced that the Pontiff will receive Volodymyr Zelensky, present at the inauguration mass, in a private audience today.
Emotion for the Fisherman's Ring - Moments of emotion for Pope Leo XIV when he put on the Fisherman's Ring. Prevost looked at the ring several times, blinking back tears and looking up to the sky.
Over 4,000 concelebrants – There are over four thousand concelebrants at the Mass for the installation of Pope Leo. In the churchyard there are 200 cardinals and 750 bishops and priests. Another three thousand concelebrating priests are in the first sector of the square on the left when looking at the basilica; also present in St. Peter's Square are 400 concelebrating deacons and priests who will distribute communion.
The Pope in the Basilica, the rites of installation begin – Pope Leo XIV is in St. Peter's Basilica: the rites of the installation mass begin from the tomb of St. Peter. Then follows the procession to St. Peter's Square where the mass will be held.
Zelensky, Vance and Von der Leyen in St. Peter's Square - US Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived at St. Peter's, reaching the square with their two separate convoys of armored cars. Also present was the President of the EU Commission Ursula Von der Leyen.
Mattarella's arrival - The President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, arrived at St. Peter's Square to attend the inauguration ceremony of Pope Leo XIV. The head of state is accompanied by his daughter Laura.
Ovation for the Pope – Pope Leo XIV, before the inauguration mass, greets the faithful by passing between the sectors in the popemobile.
The celebration – The celebration, with which the elected Pope officially begins his ministry, particularly emphasizes the "Petrine" dimension of Pastor of the Catholic Church. The specific value assumed by the usual episcopal insignia: the Pallium and the Ring, is therefore emphasized. In the introductory rites, the new Roman Pontiff descends with the Patriarchs of the Eastern Churches to the Sepulchre of St. Peter and pauses there in prayer. After the proclamation of the Gospel, in Latin and Greek, three cardinals of the three Orders (deacons, priests and bishops) and from different continents approach the Pope, to impose the Pallium on him and give him the Fisherman's Ring. On this occasion, they will be Cardinal Mamberti for the Pallium, Cardinal Ambongo for the Prayer and Cardinal Tagle for the Fisherman's Ring.
Symbols – The Pallium, an ancient episcopal insignia made of lambs' wool, recalls the Good Shepherd who places the lost sheep on his shoulders. The Ring, on which is depicted the image of Saint Peter with the keys and the net, is called "of the Fisherman" in reference to Peter, the Apostle fisherman, who, having had faith in the word of Jesus, hauled the nets of the miraculous catch ashore from the boat. It has the particular meaning of the ring that authenticates the faith and indicates the task entrusted to Peter to confirm his brothers, a task that is now also passed on to Pope Leo XIV.
The rite of obedience – Among the special moments of the complex liturgy, the "rite of obedience" : today there will also be a superior nun, Sr. Oonah O'Shea, elected just four days ago as the new president of the International Union of Superiors General, among the 12 representatives of the people of God who will profess "obedience" to the new Pope. Representing the community of the faithful in the rite of obedience will be three cardinals (Leo, Spengler and Ribat), a bishop, a priest, a deacon, two religious (in addition to Sr. O'Shea, Father Arturo Sosa, president of the Union of Superiors General), a married couple and two young people.
(Online Union)