Leo XIV: This was his first mass as pope

Spread the love

Read Time:2 Minute, 39 Second

Leo XIV celebrated his first mass as pope with the cardinals in the Sistine Chapel on Friday morning. There, the day before, the purple vestry had elected him as the successor to Pope Francis in the conclave.

During the solemn entry into the magnificent chapel of the Apostolic Palace, Leo XIV wore the white chasuble and white mitre that are customary at Easter. His footwear was striking: he wore dark shoes instead of the red ones typical of many popes – a tradition that his predecessor, Francis, had already dispensed with. In contrast to the conclave, the public was again allowed to attend the Mass in the Sistine Chapel.

Pope Leo XIV addressed the cardinals present in English
In his first sermon, Pope Leo XIV addressed the cardinals present in the Sistine Chapel in English and extemporaneously. “You have called me to carry a cross. I know that I can rely on you, that you will walk with me, and that we will continue together as a Church,” said the Pope. “We are a community of friends of Jesus and believers,” he continued, before invoking the Holy Spirit.

Pope Leo XIV then read out the sermon in Italian. In it, he emphasized the importance of the Christian faith in today’s society. “Even today, the Christian faith is seen in not a few cases as something absurd, as something for weak and less intelligent people; in many cases, other securities such as technology, money, success, power, and pleasure are preferred,” the Pope explained.

“These are environments in which it is not easy to witness and proclaim the Gospel and in which believers are mocked, opposed, despised, or at best tolerated and pitied. But precisely for this reason, these are places that are in urgent need of mission, because the lack of faith often has dramatic side effects: for example, the meaning of life is lost, mercy is forgotten, human dignity is violated in the most dramatic ways, the crisis of the family, and many other wounds from which our society suffers not inconsiderably,” said Leo XIV.

Regina Coeli prayer on Sunday
On Sunday, he will recite the Regina Coeli prayer, the midday prayer for the Easter season, from the central loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica at 12 noon. In keeping with tradition, on Monday, the new Pope will then meet with media representatives for an audience in the Paul VI Hall at 10 a.m.

It was still unclear when the mass for the pontificate’s start would occur. It is assumed that the large mass in St. Peter’s Square, which will be attended by heads of state and government worldwide, will be celebrated at the end of next week. Pope Francis’ inaugural mass occurred in March 2013, six days after his election.

On Thursday evening, the newly elected Pope Leo XIV returned to the Palace of the Holy Office, where he had lived since 2023. He greeted the people in the courtyard, took his photo with them, and blessed them all. It is still unclear where the new Pope will live. His predecessor, Francis, had resided in the Vatican guest house, Santa Marta, instead of the Apostolic Palace.