Just hours after stepping onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to greet a cheering crowd, Pope Leo XIV quietly returned to his temporary residence at the Sant’Uffizio Palace—welcomed by enthusiastic staff, former colleagues, and a young girl bearing a Bible for his blessing.
“I have to try out my new signature,” the 69-year-old Chicago-born pontiff joked, marking one of his first public moments not as Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, but as the newly elected head of the Roman Catholic Church.
Though his election marks the beginning of a new chapter for the Church, the direction of Pope Leo XIV’s papacy remains unclear. Vatican watchers are already scrutinizing his early gestures, attire, and decisions for clues about how he might lead.
One of the first signs came immediately: his choice of papal vestments. The ornate gold cross around his neck, richly embroidered stole, and traditional red mozzetta stood in contrast to the simpler style favored by his predecessor, Pope Francis, and hinted at a return to more traditional aesthetics.
Another key moment arrived Friday, when Pope Leo delivered a scripted homily to cardinals inside the Sistine Chapel—a notable departure from Francis’s typical off-the-cuff style.
According to Catholic writer Austen Ivereigh, the moment suggested that “Leo will be more closely aligned to tradition than Francis was.”
More signals are expected in the coming days. On Monday, Pope Leo is scheduled to address the global media.
On May 18, he will preside over his inaugural mass in St. Peter’s Square, an event attended by heads of state and dignitaries from around the world.
The homily he delivers then may provide the first substantial insight into his theological and social priorities.
Observers are also closely watching where Pope Leo chooses to live. While Pope Francis famously declined the Apostolic Palace in favor of the modest Casa Santa Marta guesthouse, Leo may choose to return to the traditional papal residence.
Vatican sources urged patience: “He was elected just a few days ago; let’s give him time to decide.”
Meanwhile, Pope Leo’s personal story is gaining attention in his native Chicago and in Peru, where he holds dual citizenship.
A 2015 video in which he expressed fondness for Peruvian cuisine, particularly ceviche, has gone viral across South America. Peruvian President Dina Boluarte hailed his election, declaring, “The Pope is Peruvian; God loves Peru.”
In Rome, American tourists reacted with both pride and surprise. “I’m still shocked they chose an American,” said Kerry, a Chicago native on her honeymoon. “But it’s nice to hear he’s a White Sox fan!”
Her husband Joseph added: “He seems like a man of prayer and humility. I just pray he shows the world what being a man of God can do.”
As tourists posed with local newspapers under the Vatican sun, the world awaited the first steps of a pontificate still shrouded in mystery.
For now, every gesture, every word, and every decision from Pope Leo XIV is a clue to what lies ahead for the Catholic Church.
