The first American pope and 267th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, Leo used his inaugural Mass to set the tone for what appears to be a pastoral and socially conscious papacy.
St. Peter's Square was filled with an estimated 100,000 faithful at the start of the liturgy, a crowd that swelled to 200,000 as the two-hour ceremony progressed.
The Mass, steeped in centuries-old tradition, was attended by dignitaries, royalty, and worshippers from across the globe, including U.S. Vice-President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and Peru's President Dina Boluarte â€" the leader of the country where Pope Leo previously served as a missionary and bishop.
Before the Mass began, the 69-year-old pontiff, born Robert Prevost, toured the square in the open-air popemobile, warmly greeting the cheering crowds and pausing to kiss a child. As chants of 'Viva il Papa!' (Long live the Pope) echoed across the square, Leo's humility and calm demeanour were on full display.
In his homily â€" widely seen as a declaration of papal priorities â€" Pope Leo called for healing within a Church often divided between conservatives and reformers.
'There is no room in the Church for propaganda or power plays,' he said. 'This is the hour for love.'
He also issued a sharp rebuke of global economic systems that 'exploit the Earth's resources and marginalise the poorest.'
Calling on Catholics to serve 'not with superiority, but with humility,' Leo emphasised a missionary spirit rooted in compassion and respect for diversity: 'We are called to offer God's love to everyone, in order to achieve that unity which does not cancel out differences but values the personal history of each person.'
The Mass included several striking moments of symbolism: the bestowing of the pallium, a lamb's wool vestment representing his role as shepherd, and the Ring of the Fisherman, engraved with the image of St. Peter and Leo XIV's name, symbolising his role as Peter's successor. As the ring was placed on his finger, Leo appeared visibly moved, glancing down in quiet reflection.
In a solemn close to the liturgy, Leo offered prayers for peace in Ukraine and Gaza. 'We pray for a just and lasting peace,' he said. 'For children, families, the elderly, survivors â€" those reduced to hunger and sorrow.'
Since his election on May 8, Pope Leo has signalled a blend of continuity and change. He has embraced tradition, including Latin liturgy and ornate vestments, while also launching a papal Instagram account and making early appeals for interfaith dialogue and global peace.
He has also struck a chord with many, from traditionalists to reformers, with his calls to uphold human dignity, protect migrants, and prioritise the needs of the marginalised.
Next Sunday, Pope Leo XIV will take formal possession of the Basilica of St. John Lateran, the cathedral of the bishop of Rome, marking the canonical start of a papacy already being watched closely around the world.
He succeeds Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21 after a long illness.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
