Pope Leo XIV officially began his papal ministry on Sunday, addressing conservatives who felt excluded under his predecessor, calling for unity, pledging to preserve the heritage of the Catholic Church, and declaring he would not govern as “an autocrat.”
Following his first parade in the popemobile through a crowd of around 200,000 people in St. Peter’s Square and surrounding streets, Leo was officially crowned as the 267th pope of the Roman Catholic Church during an open-air Mass.
Supporters waved American and Peruvian flags, with people from both countries celebrating him as the first pope from their nations. Born in Chicago, the 69-year-old pope spent many years as a missionary in Peru and also holds Peruvian citizenship.
Robert Prevost, a relatively unknown figure on the global stage who was made cardinal just two years ago, was elected pope on May 8 after a brief conclave of cardinals that lasted around 24 hours.
He succeeds Pope Francis, an Argentine who passed away on April 21 after a 12-year papacy often marked by turbulence, during which he clashed with traditionalists and championed the poor and marginalized.
In his homily, delivered in fluent Italian, Pope Leo stated that as leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics, he would continue Francis’s legacy on social issues such as the fight against poverty and environmental protection.
He promised to face “the questions, concerns, and challenges of today’s world” and, in a nod to conservatives, pledged to safeguard “the rich heritage of the Christian faith,” while making repeated appeals for unity.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance—a Catholic convert who previously clashed with Francis over the White House’s strict immigration policies—led the American delegation alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio, also a Catholic.
Vance briefly shook hands with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the start of the ceremony. The two had last met in February at the White House, where they had a tense exchange in front of international media.
Zelensky and Pope Leo are expected to hold a private meeting later on Sunday, while Vance is scheduled to meet with the pope on Monday.
In a brief appeal at the end of the Mass, Pope Leo referred to several global conflicts. He said that Ukraine is being “martyred,” a phrase often used by Francis, and called for a “just and lasting peace” there. He also mentioned the humanitarian situation in Gaza, according to RFE/RL.
Among those in the crowd on Sunday were many pilgrims from the United States and Peru.
Since his election, Pope Leo has signaled several key priorities for his papacy, including issuing a warning about the risks of artificial intelligence and emphasizing the need for peace both globally and within the Church itself.
Francis’s papacy left behind a deeply divided Church, with conservatives accusing him of sowing confusion.
Saying he was accepting this mission “with fear and trembling,” Leo used the words “unity” or “united” seven times on Sunday, and the word “harmony” four times.
Conservatives had also accused Francis of ruling in an authoritarian manner, often dismissing their concerns and making decisions without broad consultation.
Referring to Saint Peter, the first-century Christian apostle from whom popes derive their authority, Leo said: “Peter must shepherd the flock without ever giving in to the temptation to be an autocrat, ruling over those entrusted to him. Rather, he is called to serve the faith of his brothers and sisters and to walk alongside them.”
Many world leaders attended the ceremony, including the presidents of Israel, Peru, and Nigeria; the prime ministers of Italy, Canada, and Australia; German Chancellor Friedrich Merz; and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
