During the inaugural liturgy this morning, Pope Leo XIV made a nice gesture by taking his first trip in the popemobile.
On May 8, the late Pope Francis’ successor was formally announced: 69-year-old Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, also known as Pope Leo XIV, would take over as head of the Catholic Church.
Following Pope Leo’s election as the next pontiff, an inauguration service is celebrated in St. Peter’s Square, Vatican City.
As Pope Leo arrived at the service today (Sunday, May 18), he was seen riding through the masses, waving to all who had assembled for the historic event.
In one touching moment, the Pope could be seen giving a heartfelt gesture to two families in the audience.
Two newborns were hoisted up by their parents before being given over to members of Pope Leo’s security team, who then handed them up to the pontiff.
The Pope then blessed each infant, and they were swiftly returned to their family.
Prior to the start of the mass, the parents were spotted waving and applauding for Pope Leo as he continued in the popemobile.
Religious dignitaries and international officials will meet today to welcome Pope Leo, including President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and US Vice President JD Vance.
After the inauguration liturgy, Pope Leo is slated to live in the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace.
The palace overlooks St. Peter’s Square and has a number of papal apartments on the top floor.
At the age of 69, Pope Leo is relatively young for a pope and, having been born in Dolton, Illinois, in Chicago, stands as the first American in history to take on the post, which President Donald Trump has described as such an honor.’
According to Newsweek, he spent much of his time in Peru throughout the 1980s and 1990s after becoming ordained in 1982.
Pope Leo earned a PhD in canon law at the Pontifical College of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome before becoming a naturalized citizen of Peru. He worked as a parish priest, diocese official, seminary instructor, and administrator.
Notable for his linguistic abilities in both Spanish and Italian, he later became Bishop of Chiclayo in Peru from 2015 until 2023 and then a cardinal.
A close ally of Pope Francis, the former pontiff also appointed Leo to be the apostolic administrator of the diocese of Callao, Peru, in 2020, followed by a prefect within the powerful Vatican office, the Dicastery for Bishops, in 2023, which oversees episcopal appointments around the world.
What occurs at the Pope’s inauguration?
Cardinals in white liturgical gowns will greet the Altar of Confession at St. Peter’s Basilica.
Pope Leo will approach the altar and kiss it before a deacon takes the Book of Gospels.
The newly elected pontiff will visit St. Peter’s tomb for a minute of devotion.
The cardinal protodeacon takes the pallium and fisherman’s ring from the reliquary.
A procession will then proceed to the courtyard of St. Peter’s Square, led by cardinals and followed by Pope Leo.
The pallium, ring, and Book of the Gospels are put on the altar before the pope bows to the pulpit to begin the ceremony.
Following the celebratory readings, the cardinal will hand over the pallium and ring to the pope, together with the vice dean and secretary of state.
Pope Leo will bless the Book of Gospels and accept the pallium on his shoulders before the cardinal places the fisherman’s ring on the ring finger of the pope’s left hand.