The Vatican has announced that Pope Leo XIV will formally inaugurate his pontificate with a Mass in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, May 18, at 10:00 a.m. local time.
This significant event follows the election of Robert Francis Prevost, a 69-year-old Augustinian missionary from Chicago, marking the first time an American has ascended to the papacy
Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost, brings a wealth of experience to his new role, including extensive missionary work in Peru and leadership within the Vatican’s Dicastery for Bishops. His election is seen as a unifying choice, bridging gaps between progressive and conservative factions within the Church.
The Vatican has outlined a series of events leading up to and following the inauguration Mass:
May 10 (Saturday): Meeting with the College of Cardinals.
May 11 (Sunday): First public appearance with the Regina Caeli prayer from the central loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica.
May 12 (Monday): Meeting with international journalists.
May 16 (Friday): Audience with the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See.
May 18 (Sunday): Inauguration Mass in St. Peter’s Square.
May 20 (Tuesday): Taking possession of the Papal Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls. May 21 (Wednesday): First general audience.
May 24 (Saturday): Meeting with the Roman Curia and Vatican City State employees.
May 25 (Sunday): Regina Caeli prayer and taking possession of the Papal Basilicas of St. John Lateran and St. Mary Major.
In his first homily delivered in the Sistine Chapel, Pope Leo XIV emphasized the need for the Church to focus on spiritual depth over materialism, cautioning against reducing Jesus to a mere charismatic figure. He called for a Church that shines amid global darkness and vowed to be a faithful leader judged by holiness over grandeur.
His choice of the name “Leo XIV” pays homage to Pope Leo XIII, known for advocating workers’ rights and modernizing church teachings. Observers anticipate that Pope Leo XIV will continue Pope Francis’s legacy, with particular interest in his positions on immigration, social justice, and inclusivity.
As the Catholic Church prepares for this historic inauguration, faithful from around the world are expected to gather in Rome, marking the beginning of a new chapter under Pope Leo XIV’s leadership.
