Shortly before the Inauguration of his Petrine Ministry at 10:00'am, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV was seen entering St. Peter's Square on a Popemobile for the first time. It was The Fifth Sunday of Easter, 18th May of The Holy Jubilee Year 2025. The first Pope born in the US, post-War, was solemnly inaugurated as Supreme Pontiff during an Eucharist Mass he presided in front of 200,000 pilgrims, including 30 heads of state and almost a thousand of religious figures. His Holiness, a naturalized Peruvian Citizen who served there as an Augustinian missionary & then Bishop for a good part of our century, was proclaimed "Shepherd of The Sheep" as he received his Piscatory Ring & the Pallium - the episcopal insignia of the Successor of Peter - ten days after he was elected to succeed the late Pope Francis as Head of The Roman Catholic Church and Sovereign of The Holy See. In his homily, Leo XIV proclaimed his vision of a missionary Church, united by God's "infinite and unconditional" love, mentioning his Papal Motto 'in the one Christ, we are one'. The Holy Father declared that he is "a Christian with You, a Bishop For You" and "Roman" before he was formally installed as 267th Bishop of Rome in The Eternal City's Archbasilica of Saint John The Lateran, as part of having taken possession of the rest of four Papal Basilicas (starting with Saint Peter's on May 18) on May 20 and 25, 2025.
The eucharistic celebration of The Inaugural mass of Pope Leo XIV Petrine Ministry began at 10:00am (Sunday, 18 May 2025), inside St. Peter's Basilica. His Holiness descended to the Tomb of Saint Peter beneath the Altar, and paused in prayer for the Apostle, considered as the founding Pope of The Roman Church. The choir sang the Latin hymn "Tu est Petrus" ("You are Peter"). The Holy Father touched the trophaeum (the martyred Apostle's memorial mark) as two deacons took the Pallium - a woolen white strip, embroidened with six black crosses - the fisherman's ring and the Book of The Gospels. The Pallium represents the Savior, who encounters the humans like lost sheep (evoking the image of The Good Shepherd). It is a liturgical vestment, worn on the pontiff's shoulders - as symbol of pastoral responsibility towards the 1.4 billion of global Catholics - and held in place by three pins. The fisherman's ring, that in the past included the bull (seal), is the symbol of papal authority; a gold signet, depicting St. Peter ('the fisherman') outside, and the current Pope's name & coat-of-arms inside. Then, The Bishop of Rome, accompanied by Patriarchs of the Eastern Churches, ascended back to St. Peter's Basilica, and joined the 200 (attending) Cardinals in procession to St. Peter's Square. Pope Leo walked assisted by the papal ferula ('rod') of Pope Paul VI, which was commonly used by Pope-Saint John Paul II. This was a special nod to the Polish Pope, whose 105th birth anniversary was also on May 18 (2025).
The procession was accompanied by the singing of the ancient Latin hymn "Laudes Regiae", honoring Christ's triumph, while an extensive Litany of Saints was being recited. Seen from the parvise of Saint Peter's Square was a Flemish tapestry by Raphael, hanging from the central gate of The Basilica and a Holy icon of Our Lady..., placed next to the (errected) Altar. The tapestry portrayed the Dialogue between Jesus and Peter - a central theme in the Liturgy of the World - depicting the miraculous catch of fish by Apostle Peter (hence his calling: 'fisher of the men'). The image of Our Lady of Good Counsel is from the Marian Shrine of Genazzano (which has long been under the protection of the Augustine Order). People gathered thriughout The Square broke to applauses and cheers "Viva il Papa!" ('Long Live The Pope!) as Leo appeared, just as they had less than an hour before, when he was seen riding the Popemobile. From the right side of The Altar, more than 750 bishops and deacons sat, plus the Cardinals and other religious leaders. On the left, official delegations of State leaders and their representatives. They included: Two Kings, Three Queens, The Sovereign Couples of Luxembourg, Monaco, Hereditary Couple of Liechtenstein, Crown Princess of Sweden, and The outgoing (& incoming) Episcopal Co-Prince of Andorra. The Queens of Belgium and Spain, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg & Princess of Monaco were all dressed in white, excersizing the Privilege du Blanc ('Privilege of the White'), the customary right of all Catholic Royal Consorts to not wear a black attire in presence of The Pope (as the tradition holds for other women).
Pope Leo XIV blessed the altar and poured on holy water, a rite followed during Eastern Season. Then the Gloria and the Collect were sung, reflecting The Father's plan to build His Church upon Peter. The Liturgy of The World began afterwards. A reading by The Acts of Apostles, proclaiming that Christ was rejected by builders as a 'stone' (petra in greek) was read in Spanish, with a response that the rejected stone became "a cornerstone" (for the building of the Church) in Italian. The Second reading in Spanish from The First Letter of Peter underscored the connection between The Apostle, The Church of Rome, and Ministry of his Successor(s). A passage from John of The Gospel was then proclaimed in both Latin and Greek (a nod to the Eastern Catholic tradition). It recounted Jesus' unique designation to Peter among The 12 Apostles (to "feed My lambs", "tend My sheep"). The proclamation of The Gospel was followed by the Conferral of The Petrine Episcopal Insignia to The Supreme Pontiff. Three Cardinals from different orders & representing different continents, approached The Holy Father one after another. First Cardinal-deacon Mario Zenari (the Italian apostolic nuncio to Syria) imposed the Pallium on The Pope's shoulders. Then Cardinal-priest Fridolin Ambongo (Archbishop of Kinshasa, in Democratic Republic of Congo) recited a prayer asked for God's blessing to the new roman pontiff. Last but not least, Cardinal-bishop Luis Antonio Tagle (Filipino pro-prefect of the Dicastery for the Evangelization of Peoples), came over and bestowed The Vicar of Christ with the Piscatory, fisherman's Ring of his Reign. The new Papacy was formally launched, The Sovereign of The Holy See had been Inaugurated.
After a moment of prayer to The Holy Spirit, The newly-installed Head of The Roman Catholic Church took the Book of the Gospels, and blessed the assembled making a sign of The Cross. An acclamation in Latin and Greek was made, reciting: "Ad multos annos, Domine" ("Many years to you, Lord"). The pope was left visibly moved, and a spontaneous applause broke out amongst the congregation. Following was the rite of obedience: twelve people; including the senior Cardinals from three orders (who had just conferred the episcopal insignia to the pope), two superior generals (one male & one female), and two married couples - symbolizing the breadth and unity of the Catholic community from around the world - and young people; paid hommage to His Holiness, symbolizing a gesture of filial obedience. The choir sang once again 'Tu est Petrus' and The Bishop of Rome began his homily. The Holy Father greeted everyone - including delegations of Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, Zoroastrian and Jainist denominations - in attendance, and quoted Saint Augustine addressing God's Love and saying that "our heart is restless until it rests in you".
The Holy Father initially referred to the death of Pope Francis after his final Blessing on Easter Sunday, leaving the faithful like "sheep without a shepherd". He reiterated however, with "eyes of faith, hope & joy" to remember that "God never abandons us" and thus expressed graditude to everyone who accompanied the College of Cardinals with prayer during The Papal conclave, where he said they felt in harmony with The Holy Spirit, "like musical instruments" with their headstrings vibrating a single melody. On his election, Leo said that he was chosen "without any merit of my own", and that he now comes as a brother "with fear and trembling", deciding to serve your faith and your joy, walking with you on the path of God's love" ... "united in one family". He then stressed on love and unity as the leading elements entrusted to Peter by Jesus. His Holiness explained that Peter's experience of "infinite and unconditional love of God" enabled him to fullfil his mission, and that the disciples may be "fishers of men" to continue this mission, bring "the hope of Gospel" so that all people can experience "God's embrace". The Pope additionally focused on a "self-sacrificing love" by the example of Saint Peter, who was entrusted with "loving more", ready to give "his life for the flock". That kind of bond he connected with The Ministry of Peter, and the charity of Christ & The Church of Rome, which should never be "a question of capturing others by force, by religious propaganda, or by means of power" but rather of love in Jesus' example. That said, The Supreme Pontiff expressed his hope for a "united Church, a sign of unity and communion" ... "a leaven for a reconciled world". And mentioning the current inbalanced reality, The Holy Father called upon everyone to come closer to Christ, and help the Church not close to itself in small groups or superiority illusions by promoting a missionary & inclusive spirit. He quoted his predecessor, Leo XIII, asking if this were to happen, wouldn't every conflict cease and peace return?
Pope Leo XIV finished his inaugural homily by proclaiming this as "the hour of love", The heart of the Gospel & Love of God making "us brothers and sisters", and called upon everyone to "walk towards God and love one another". A prolonged moment of silence followed as the 69-year-old Holy Pontiff's reflections still echoed in everyone's ears. The 'Creed' psalm was sung in Latin, followed by a Universal prayer (of The Faithful), recited in intersections in: Portuguese, French, Arabic, Polish and Chinese (for The Roman Pontiff, his ministry, those in positions of authority, those suffering & gathered assembly). The Offectory then chanted "Tu est pastor ovium" ("You are The Shepherd of the sheep"), highlighting the authority given to Peter (& his 266 Successors) by Christ. His Holiness prayed the First (& longest of the four) Eucharistic Prayer(s) - of The Roman Canon - using a chalice and paten of his namesake predecessor Leo XIII (pope: 1878-1903). The Holy Communion was then distributed (followed by prayers for the 'fruits of redemption' and the unity & charity of Church, the protection of its Head & his flock). Following The Communion rite, The Holy Father implied a brief, personal address to "dear brothers and sisters", thanking them to the faith, recalling those suffering in conflict zones (in Ukraine, Myanmar & Gaza), imploring Pope Francis' 'spiritual presence' and calling for the intercession of Our Lady of Good Counsel in the name of 'Risen Christ'. Regina caeli - a paschal hymn dedicated to the Marian month - was sung, and a final solemn blessing, imbuing the Lord's Blessing of The Church (as vine in His planted vineyard), was imparted by The Roman Pontiff. HH Pope Leo XIV then enterred St. Peter's Basilica to personally receive congratulations from the official guests of 150 foreign delegations.
In the week following The Inauguration of his Ministry as Supreme Pontiff within Vatican City State (& its Basilica of Saint Peter), Pope Leo XIV completed his inaugural events as Bishop of Rome in the Eternal City's other three Papal Basilicas. He visited The Basilica of Saint Paul Outside The Walls on Tuesday 20th May 2025, venerated The Apostle's Throphaeum & prayed in front of his Tomb, before formally taking his seat on its Episcopal throne. The Sovereign of The Holy See was accompanied by a procession of Benedictine monks, affiliated to the Basilica & in his homily quoted Pope Benedict XVI preaching about "God's loving plan" for Salvation. On Sunday, 25th May 2025, The Holy Father took possession of the remaining two Basilicas in Rome. On his way to The Cathedral, he stopped in front of The Capitoline (City Hall) where he was formally welcomed by The Mayor of Rome Roberto Gualtieri and declared that: "for you and with you (the people) I am Roman!". At 17:00' His Holiness celebrated his Inaugural Mass at The Archbasilica of Saint John The Lateran, where he was formally enthroned as Head of the City's Episcopal Diocese. At his homily he quoted both Saint Augustine ("a Christian with You and a bishop For you") & Blessed Pope John Paul I (the short-served "smiling Pope"), who had himself paraphrased a pledge of Saint Pius X to The Venetians; assuring he loved them & will devote "the little I have and am, at the service of all". Finally, The 267th Bishop of Rome visited The Basilica of Saint Mary Major, in a popemobile procession through the streets of Rome & greeting The Faithful from the Loggias of both Temples. There at 7:30'pm The Pope celebrated another mass, while offering a floral tribute to The Holy Icon of "Salus Populi Romani" & praying on the tomb of his late Predecessor
On Saturday, May 31 (2025) on The Feast of The Visitation of Virgin Mary, HH Pope Leo XIV presided over a mass of presbyterian ordination in St. Peter's Basilica, creating 11 Priests of The Holy Roman Church.
Following a strumbling period of its Apostolic Succession, The Holy See of The Roman Catholic Church had finally been cemented under a new leadership. As it went through an extraordinary post-Eastern Season, The Archdiocese of The City of Rome Installed its duly elected Bishop throughout The Marian Month (of May, dedicated to The Virgin Mary - under whose wings Pope Francis is laid to Rest) turning The period prior to Pentecost (50-days after Easter) into a Special time for Devotion, Prayer and Renewal. Once formally Ascended to the humblest & yet most influential Christian Ministry on Earth, American, Augustinian, Missionary - Pope Leo XIV will lead The Holy Roman Church & its millions-strong Global flock throughout The Jubilee Year of Hope and beyond after he closes The Holy Gates left open by His Immediate Predecessor in The Basilicas he has now taken possession of. Viva il Papa!
Videos:
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