Pope Leo XIV presided over his inaugural mass on Sunday, May 18, in front of St Peter’s Basilica, calling for the rejection of hatred and division.
In the formal start of his papacy, Pope Leo, in his homily, disavowed “an economic paradigm that exploits the Earth’s resources and marginalises the poorest.”
Among those present were United States Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was also in attendance.
Per reports, the ceremony, which started at 10 a.m. local time (4 a.m. ET), included the mass and the papal rituals bestowing the Fisherman’s Ring, the imposition of the pallium and an homage by the cardinals.
150 delegations headed by monarchs, presidents and prime ministers and thousands gathered in Vatican City to witness the ceremony.
At the end of the mass, Pope Leo blessed the congregation with the words, “Benedicat vos omnipotens Deus,” meaning “May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”
