Vatican Metropolis — Newly elected Pope Leo XIV celebrated his first mass as head of the Catholic Church on Friday, presiding over a personal gathering of cardinals within the Sistine Chapel.
In line with the Vatican, the US-born pontiff, previously Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, delivered his much-anticipated first homily throughout the intimate ceremony.
Leo XIV, the 267th pope and non secular chief to over 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide, was elected on Thursday following a secret conclave held by cardinals throughout the Sistine Chapel. His election was introduced to the world from the enduring balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, the place he greeted 1000’s of cheering pilgrims—a lot of whom had been unfamiliar with the common-or-garden determine earlier than them.
Born in Chicago, Prevost spent over 20 years serving in Peru as a missionary. Although he was made a cardinal solely in 2023, he had reportedly been on shortlists of potential popes amongst Vatican observers, admired for his pastoral humility and world expertise.
Over the approaching days, Pope Leo XIV’s actions and messages might be carefully watched, starting with Friday’s mass, Sunday’s Regina Coeli prayer, and a scheduled assembly with journalists on the Vatican on Monday.
In Peru, the place he served for years, tributes poured in. Bishop Luis Alberto Barrera of El Callao praised the brand new pope’s easy, relatable strategy. “He confirmed his closeness and ease with the folks. He was a quite simple one that tailored to every part, like all good missionary,” he mentioned.
Again in his hometown of Chicago, celebrations broke out in recognition of a local son ascending to the papacy. Identified for his love of baseball, deep-dish pizza, and his working-class roots on the South Facet, Leo XIV was fondly remembered by his former parish group.
The Chicago Tribune hailed him as “the satisfaction and pleasure of each priest and nun” from his native parish, the place he as soon as served as an altar boy.