History was made on the evening of Thursday, May 8, when the Catholic Church gained its first American pope. Chicago-born Robert F. Prevost walked into the Sistine Chapel a cardinal and emerged before the joyous crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square Pope Leo XIV.
His first words, spoken in Italian, were “Peace be with you all!” In his first “urbi et orbi” blessing, he emphasized peace and building bridges. He thanked Pope Francis by name, and echoed his predecessor’s call for a church that welcomes “tutti, tutti, tutti, ” saying that God “loves all of us unconditionally” and that the church must go out to “everyone, everyone who needs our charity, our presence, dialogue and love.”
On Friday morning, Pope Leo celebrated his first Mass in the Sistine Chapel with the cardinals who had just elected him to lead the Catholic Church.
The pope began his homily with “a word in English,” before switching to Italian.
“Through the ministry of Peter, you have called me to carry that cross and to be blessed with that mission,” he said to the cardinals in English. “And I know that I can rely on each and every one of you to walk with me as we continue as a church, as a community of friends of Jesus, as believers, to announce the good news, to announce the Gospel.”
Here’s what else you can expect in the coming days.
Sunday, May 11 Pope Leo XIV will recite the Regina Coeli prayer, which is substituted for the Angelus during the Easter season, from the central balcony overlooking St. Peter’s Square, where he first appeared to the world after his election on May 8.
Monday, May 12 Pope Leo XIV will hold a press conference with accredited Vatican media. Pope Francis surprised and charmed the media in his first meeting with journalists, joking with them and speaking off the cuff—a style that would define his papacy. It was also there that Pope Francis first expressed his desire for “a poor church for the poor.” In addition to any hints Pope Leo gives about the shape his papacy might take, journalists and others will be interested to see the tone Leo XIV strikes during this first encounter with the press.
When is Pope Leo XIV’s inaugural Mass?
Pope Leo XIV’s inaugural public Mass in St. Peter’s Square will take place at 10 a.m. on Sunday, May 18, the Vatican announced. Political and religious leaders from around the world are expected to attend. An estimated 200,000 were at Pope Francis’ inauguration on March 19, 2013. Then-Vice President Joseph R. Biden, a Catholic, attended the Mass. President Donald J. Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance, also Catholic, have yet to announce whether they intend to travel to Rome to attend Pope Leo’s first public Mass.
On his social media website, Truth Social, Mr. Trump congratulated the new pope and said: “I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!” On X, Mr. Vance said: “Congratulations to Leo XIV, the first American Pope, on his election! I’m sure millions of American Catholics and other Christians will pray for his successful work leading the Church. May God bless him!”
Pope Leo XIV will also begin meeting with key Vatican figures in the coming weeks. On Friday, May 16, he will have an audience with the Holy See’s diplomatic corp, and on Saturday, May 24, he will meet with the Roman Curia and the employees of the Vatican City State.
On May 21, the pope will hold his first Wednesday general audience, at which Romans, pilgrims and visitors will have the opportunity to receive a blessing from the first American pope.
