By Olivier Acuña Barba •
Printed: 18 Could 2025 • 19:23
• 2 minutes learn
Pope Leo XIV held his inauguration mass in St. Peter’s Sq., the place he arrived within the white Popemobile, waving to hundreds of people that have been there to salute him on his first day as pontiff.
Leo, previously Cardinal Robert Prevost, was formally put in as the top of the Catholic Church at an out of doors Mass in St Peter’s Sq. with world leaders and European royalty in attendance.
In his sermon, the 267th pontiff and the primary American within the Catholic Church’s 2,000-year historical past, referred to as for unity inside the church, and stated it’s “with worry and trembling” that he approaches the church’s followers “as a brother”. “I would love our first nice want to be for a united church, an indication of unity and communion, which turns into a leaven for a reconciled world,” he stated.
The brand new pope’s name for peace
Pope Leo XIV referred to as for peace in Gaza, Myanmar, and Ukraine throughout a Sunday blessing on the finish of his inaugural Mass in St. Peter’s Sq..
Leo expressed hope for Moscow and Kiev peace negotiations to carry a “simply and lasting peace” in Ukraine and provided prayers for the individuals of Gaza, youngsters, households and the aged who’ve been “decreased to starvation.”
He additionally talked about Myanmar, the place “new hostilities have lower quick harmless younger lives and recalled Pope Francis saying that through the mass he “strongly felt the religious presence of Pope Francis accompanying us from heaven.”
After mass, he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, though no particulars from that encounter have but been launched. Pope Leo additionally shook Vice President JD Vance’s hand. The Catholic chief has repeatedly criticised the vice chairman and Donald Trump for his or her stance on immigration.
The pontiff thanked the 200,000 individuals and quite a few delegations attending the Eucharist, expressing his gratitude to the representatives of countries, Church buildings, and varied religions, the Vatican Information reported.
“Within the pleasure of religion and communion, we can not neglect our brothers and sisters who’re struggling due to struggle,” stated Pope Leo.
The union between a person and a lady
On Friday, Folks Leo instructed Vatican diplomats assembly with him that “the household is based on the steady union between a person and a lady,” reinforcing Catholic doctrine that defines marriage as a sacred bond between one man and one girl.
His assertion is in step with his feedback in 2012 when, as the top of the Augustinian order, the Rev. Robert Prevost, he criticised the “gay life-style” and the function of mass media in selling acceptance of same-sex relationships that conflicted with Catholic doctrine.
In 2022, nonetheless, he acknowledged Pope Francis’ name for a extra inclusive church, and stated he didn’t need individuals excluded simply on the premise of their life-style.
He additionally made reaching out to LGBTQ Catholics an indicator, insisting they’re welcome within the church.