In a momentous occasion for the Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, celebrated his inaugural Mass as the 267th pontiff in the Sistine Chapel Friday, 9 May, 2025 marking the beginning of his papacy with a message of unity and peace.
The 69-year-old Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who took the papal name Leo XIV, was elected on Thursday, 8 May, succeeding Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21.
The Mass, attended by cardinals and dignitaries, was steeped in tradition, with Pope Leo XIV using a crosier previously wielded by Pope Benedict XVI.
In his homily, described as “beautiful” by observers, the pontiff emphasised the Church’s role as a bridge-builder, urging Catholics worldwide to live out their faith through love and service. “This is the peace of the Risen Christ, humble and persevering,” he said, echoing themes from his first public address on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, where he greeted thousands with “Peace be with you all.”
Pope Leo XIV, the first Augustinian pope and only the second from the Americas, inherits a Church facing challenges, including declining attendance in Europe and North America and ongoing credibility issues from past scandals. His missionary background and global perspective are seen as assets to address these concerns, particularly in the growing Catholic communities of the Global South.
The election of Pope Leo XIV is a timely intervention in a world 🌎 riddled with so much injustice and materialism. The church marches on!