History unfolded in Vatican City on Sunday as Pope Leo XIV, the first American to ascend to the papacy, rode through a jubilant St Peter’s Square in the iconic popemobile, greeting tens of thousands of pilgrims just moments before his inauguration mass. The Chicago-born pontiff, born Robert Francis Prevost, smiled warmly, blessed the faithful, and waved with humble grace as cheers erupted across the square.
It was a deeply symbolic moment—the 69-year-old former missionary, now spiritual leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics, making his first public procession as the successor of St Peter, barely a week after his election on May 8.
US Vice President JD Vance was among the many world dignitaries present for the landmark event, joining clergy, diplomats, and lay faithful as the inaugural mass commenced at 10:00 a.m. local time. The liturgy marked the formal start of Pope Leo XIV’s papacy and featured age-old rites, including the presentation of the papal ring and the homily that offered his first official spiritual message to the world.
In that message, Pope Leo XIV struck a familiar but firm tone—urging peace amidst global conflict, calling for justice in a world plagued by inequality, and grounding his vision in traditional Catholic teachings. “We must build bridges of mercy, not walls of hate,” he said, reiterating his stance on social justice and the sanctity of life.
Despite being relatively unknown to many Catholics, Leo’s humility and clarity have resonated deeply in the days following his election. Having spent two decades in Peru serving as a missionary, the new pontiff has spoken passionately about his experiences among the poor and marginalized, and how those years shaped his worldview.
He has also been firm on matters of doctrine, defending the Church’s position on the sanctity of the family as “a stable union of a man and a woman” and emphasizing the protection of unborn life as a non-negotiable moral tenet.
Among the many in attendance, Inacia Lisboa, 71, who hails from Cape Verde but lives in Rome, summed up the sentiment of the faithful with a tear in her eye: “He has already entered my heart. I see in him a pastor who truly walks with the people.”
As the bells of St Peter’s Basilica rang out and the faithful raised their eyes to their new shepherd, it was clear that the papacy of Pope Leo XIV is poised to blend the missionary spirit with moral conviction—an American beginning for a global Church.