Pope Leo XIV celebrated his first mass on Friday in the Sistine Chapel, where he was elected less than 24 hours earlier, warning of the dangers caused by a lack of faith and hoping the Catholic Church could be a beacon lighting the world’s “dark nights.”
Leo, the former Cardinal Robert Prevost and the first U.S. pope, looked calm as he delivered the mass in the famous┬аfrescoed chapel with the same cardinals who chose him to be the 267th pontiff and the successor to Pope Francis.
Dressed in relatively simple white and gold vestments, Leo, who was born┬аin Chicago but spent two decades as a missionary in Peru, said a few words in English before continuing his homily in fluent Italian.
In the homily, Leo, 69, painted a picture of the Church he would like to see, saying he would seek to serve as the “faithful administrator” for the Church as a whole.
Pope Leo XIV was introduced to cheering crowds in St. PeterтАЩs Square, but the new pontiff will have to face multiple challenges, from the financial issues surrounding the Vatican to a church that remains divided over whether and how much it needs to change.
“You have called me to carry that cross and to be blessed with that mission, and I know I can rely on each and every one of you to walk with me as we continue as a church, as a community, as friends of Jesus, as believers, to announce the good news, to announce the Gospel,” he said.
The new pope, who leads 1.4 billion Catholics around the world, acknowledged the Christian faith is sometimes “considered absurd” and the preserve of “the weak and unintelligent.”
“A lack of faith is often tragically accompanied by the loss of meaning in life, the neglect of mercy, appalling violations of human dignity, the crisis of the family and so many other wounds that afflict our society,” he said.
Elected at the end of a two-day conclave that was wrapped up on Thursday evening when white smoke billowed from the chimney on the chapel, Leo was scheduled to have lunch with the cardinals. They will then be free to leave the Vatican and return to their homes around the world.
Inauguration to take place next Sunday
The Vatican laid out more details of Leo’s early papacy in statements on Friday.
Leo’s formal inauguration mass to mark his appointment will take place in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, May 18, and he will hold his first general audience three days later.
As well, Leo has confirmed all top Vatican officials in their current roles on a temporary basis.
All Vatican senior officials, appointed for five-year terms, serve at the pleasure of the pope. A new pontiff usually rolls over existing mandates, at least initially, before deciding whether to change key positions.
John Doughney, who attended St. Mary of the Assumption school with the boy who would become Pope Leo XIV, says Robert Prevost displayed compassion, devotion and humility beyond his years.
Peruvians celebrate
The successor to Pope Francis, who died last month at the age of 88, inherits a number of major challenges, ranging from a budget shortfall to divisions over whether the Church should be more welcoming toward the LGBTQ+ community and the divorced, and whether women play a greater role in its affairs.
He will also have a packed agenda, with the Vatican celebrating a Holy Year that brings millions of additional tourists to Rome.
One of the clues to what kind of a leader Leo will be was in his choice of name, something that pontiffs often use to send a signal about the priorities of their new papacy.
The last pope with this name was Leo XIII, who led the Church from 1878 to 1903. He was known for his devoted focus to social justice issues, and is often credited with laying the foundation for modern Catholic social teaching.
Prevost became a cardinal only in 2023.┬а
Francis brought him to Rome two years ago to head the Vatican office in charge of choosing which priests should serve as Catholic bishops across the globe, meaning he has had a hand in selecting many of the world’s bishops.
The new pope worked for decades in the north of Peru, first as a missionary and later as Bishop of Chiclayo from 2015 to 2023. Catholics took to the streets of the small city in northwestern Peru, and church bells rang out to celebrate the election of a man who they embrace as one of their own.
Pope Leo XIVтАЩs election sparked celebration in the U.S. тАФ but past criticisms of President Donald Trump hint at possible tensions ahead. His call for unity stands in stark contrast to the divided political landscape in his home country.
Given the nature of the conclaves, when cardinals are shut away from the world and sworn to secrecy, it will remain an open question for now how Leo obtained the required two-thirds majority of the vote. In the past, details have leaked out, as in 2013, when it was revealed that Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouelette received significant support in early ballots before Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elevated, choosing his papal name in honour of St. Francis of Assisi.
U.S. President Donald Trump was quick to congratulate Leo. However,┬аposts on the X account of Robert Prevost have retweeted criticisms of current U.S. immigration policy.
