Newly elected Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost, celebrated his inaugural mass as head of the Catholic Church on Friday with an intimate gathering of cardinals inside the Sistine Chapel.
The event, shown on Vatican broadcasts, marked his first liturgical act following his election.
The 267th pope and spiritual leader of over 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide, Prevost was chosen on Thursday during a secret conclave held in the Sistine Chapel.
He is set to deliver his eagerly awaited first homily as pontiff.
Cheers erupted from tens of thousands gathered in St Peter’s Square when Leo XIV made his first public appearance from the basilica’s balcony.
Many spectators were unfamiliar with the soft-spoken American who now holds the Church’s highest office.
A native of Chicago, Pope Leo spent 20 years in Peru and was elevated to cardinal in 2023.
Though not widely known on the international stage, he had been quietly mentioned among potential successors to Pope Francis.
As Leo embarks on his first days in the papacy, his schedule includes Friday’s mass, Sunday’s Regina Coeli prayer, and a Monday audience with journalists, each moment expected to draw close attention from within and beyond the Church.
In Peru, where he once served as a missionary, tributes poured in. Bishop Luis Alberto Barrera of El Callao praised his character, “He showed his closeness and simplicity with the people,” Barrera told AFP. “He was a very simple person who adapted to everything, like any good missionary.”
Meanwhile, back in Chicago, the local community celebrated his roots, recalling his fondness for baseball, deep-dish pizza, and his South Side upbringing.
The Chicago Tribune hailed him as “the pride and joy of every priest and nun” in his home parish, where he once served as an altar boy.
During his first address to the faithful on Thursday evening, Pope Leo emphasized themes of unity and peace in a tone reminiscent of his predecessor.
“Help us, and each other, to build bridges through dialogue, through encounter, to come together as one people, always in peace,” he urged. “We must seek together how to be a missionary Church, a Church that builds bridges, which holds dialogues, which is always open.”
Global leaders swiftly extended their congratulations, pledging to collaborate with the Vatican amid widespread geopolitical instability.
Leo XIV steps into his role during a challenging era. He must navigate the Church’s internal divisions and address ongoing crises, including the unresolved consequences of past abuse scandals.
Prior to his papacy, Prevost was known for advocating on behalf of the poor and vulnerable.
He had also shared online criticism of United States President Donald Trump’s stance on immigration. Still, Trump offered his congratulations, stating Thursday it was a “great honour” to have an American pope.
The exact number of voting rounds needed to elect him remains undisclosed, but like recent conclaves, it concluded swiftly within two days.
When white smoke rose above the Sistine Chapel, signaling the selection of a new pope, the atmosphere was electric.
“I’m not an overly religious person but, being here with all these people just blew me away,” said 39-year-old Joseph Brian from Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Observers noted that in choosing Prevost, the cardinals favored a steady hand in continuity with the late Pope Francis, known for his progressive reforms during a 12-year papacy.
“He is a moderate consensus candidate who fits into a soft continuity, a gentle continuity with Pope Francis, who will not alienate conservatives,” said Francois Mabille of the Paris-based think tank IRIS. “At least, he has not alienated them.”
Mabille also remarked that Pope Leo’s understated demeanor might serve him well in the tense global landscape.
“It is a posthumous success for Pope Francis, with undoubtedly some different accents and embodiment of the pontifical role,” he added.
