Pope Leo XIV made a touching gesture during his first ride in the popemobile at his inaugural Mass this morning.
On May 8, 69-year-old Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was officially announced as the successor to the late Pope Francis, taking the papal name Pope Leo XIV and becoming the new head of the Catholic Church.
The inauguration Mass was held today (Sunday, May 18) in St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City, marking the official beginning of his papacy.
As Pope Leo made his way through the gathered crowds, waving to well-wishers from the popemobile, a heartwarming moment unfolded. Two families held up their infants, who were gently lifted by members of the Pope’s security team and passed to the Pontiff.
Pope Leo paused to bless each baby before they were returned to their families. The emotional parents waved and cheered as the Pope continued his procession through the square.
The inauguration has drawn religious leaders and dignitaries from around the world. Among those in attendance are European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and U.S. Vice President JD Vance.
Following the ceremony, Pope Leo is expected to take up residence in the Apostolic Palace, which overlooks St. Peter’s Square and houses the papal apartments on its top floor.
Pope Leo could be seen greeting crowds in St Peter’s Square this morning (David Ramos/Getty Images)
Pope Leo, at 69, is considered relatively young for a pontiff. Born near Dolton, Illinois, in the Chicago area, he holds the historic distinction of being the first American ever elected to the papacy—an achievement that former President Donald Trump hailed as “such an honor.”
Though American by birth, Pope Leo spent much of the 1980s and 1990s in Peru after being ordained in 1982, according to Newsweek. He earned a doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical College of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome and eventually became a naturalized Peruvian citizen. During his time in Peru, he served in various clerical roles, including parish priest, diocesan official, seminary teacher, and administrator.
Fluent in both Spanish and Italian, Leo was appointed Bishop of Chiclayo, Peru, in 2015, a position he held until 2023 before being elevated to cardinal.
A close ally of Pope Francis, Leo received two significant Vatican appointments from the former pontiff: first, as apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Callao, Peru, in 2020, and later, in 2023, as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops—the influential Vatican office responsible for overseeing episcopal appointments worldwide.
Pope Leo’s inaugural mass is being held on Sunday, May 18 (ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty Images)
What happens at the Pope’s inauguration?
- Cardinals in white liturgical robes will greet the Altar of the Confession in St. Peter’s Basilica.
- Pope Leo will go up to the altar and kiss it before a deacon takes the Book of the Gospels.
- The newly-elected pontiff will go to St. Peter’s tomb for a moment of prayer.
- The pallium and the fisherman’s ring are taken from the reliquary by the cardinal protodeacon.
- A procession will then take place to the courtyard of St. Peter’s Square lead by cardinals and followed by Pope Leo.
- The pallium, ring and Book of the Gospels are placed on the altar before the pope bows towards the pulpit and starts the celebration.
- After readings of celebration, the cardinal will give the pallium and ring to the pontiff alongside the vice dean and the secretary of state.
- Pope Leo will bless the Book of Gospels and will receive the pallium on his shoulders before the cardinal places the fisherman’s ring on the ring finger of the pope’s left hand.
