Pope Leo's inauguration takes place in Vatican

Pope Leo at the inauguration. Photo: Reuters

On May 18, 2025, a solemn Mass was held in St. Peter's Square on the occasion of the inauguration of the new pontiff – Pope Leo XIV, writes Vatican News. More than 100,000 pilgrims, world leaders, and representatives of various Christian denominations participated in the ceremony.

The U.S. delegation was represented by Vice President J. D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Both are Catholics. At the beginning of the ceremony, Vance briefly shook hands with Ukrainian President Zelensky.

The central theme of the first public worship of the new head of the Catholic Church was calls for unity and brotherly love. “I come to you as a brother, who desires to be the servant of your faith and your joy, walking with you on the path of God’s love, for he wants us all to be united in one family,” the pontiff declared, addressing the thousands of believers.

In his sermon, the new Pope particularly focused on the themes of love and unity – two aspects of the mission entrusted by Jesus to the Apostle Peter. “The ministry of Peter is distinguished precisely by this self-sacrificing love, because the Church of Rome presides in charity and its true authority is the charity of Christ. It is never a question of capturing others by force, by religious propaganda or by means of power. Instead, it is always and only a question of loving as Jesus did,” the pontiff emphasized.

Among the religious delegations present at the Inaugural Mass were representatives of Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Zoroastrianism, and Jainism, highlighting the new pontiff's commitment to interfaith dialogue.

In conclusion, Pope Leo XIV invited all Christians to be enlightened by the Holy Spirit, so that we might build a Church “founded on God’s love, a sign of unity, a missionary Church that opens its arms to the world, proclaims the word, allows itself to be made ‘restless’ by history, and becomes a leaven of harmony for humanity.”

“Together, as one people, as brothers and sisters, let us walk towards God and love one another,” the new head of the Catholic Church concluded his first official sermon.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that Pope Leo wears a pectoral cross from the Russian Orthodox Church.

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