Pope Leo XIV was officially inaugurated as the new leader of the Catholic Church in a grand ceremony held in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on May 18, 2025. About 200,000 people, including prominent world leaders, attended the ceremony. Pope Leo, formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost, is the first American-born pope and holds Peruvian citizenship. He was born in Chicago and worked as a missionary in Peru for many years.
In a homily delivered in Italian, Pope Leo stressed unity within the church and promised to act as a “faithful servant” and avoid authoritarian rule. He also said he would continue Pope Francis’ path in social justice, fighting poverty and protecting the environment. Pope Leo XIII, referring to the divisions left by Pope Francis, especially among conservatives, assured that the church’s heritage and traditional values would be preserved.
At the ceremony, Pope Leo received the traditional symbols of the papacy, including the pallium and the fisherman’s ring. In his first speech, he also described the church as a “beacon to illuminate the dark nights of the world” and emphasized its role in promoting peace and justice.
The election of Pope Leo XIV as the leader of the Catholic Church is a sign of the continuation of the path of social reform and the effort to unite the church. With extensive experience in religious and social work, he began his mission with an emphasis on solidarity, justice and peace.
