Pope Leo XIV delivered his inaugural Mass on Sunday before 150,000 faithful and leaders from around the world in St. Peter’s Square.
What did Leo say?
Leo, history’s first American pope, presented a message of unity and communion during his homily, vowing to help the Catholic Church become a force for peace in the world.
“I would like that our first great desire be for a united church, a sign of unity and communion, which becomes a leaven for a reconciled world,” he said. “In this our time, we still see too much discord, too many wounds caused by hatred, violence, prejudice, the fear of difference, and an economic paradigm that exploits the Earth’s resources and marginalizes the poorest.”
During the Mass, Leo appeared to choke up when the two potent symbols of the papacy were placed on him — the pallium woolen stole over his shoulders and the fisherman’s ring on his finger. He turned his hand to look at the ring and seal and then clasped his hands in front of him in prayer.
Who attended – and who didn’t?
Vice President JD Vance led the American delegation to the Vatican, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio also in attendance.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also attended with his wife, Olena, and was seen shaking hands with Vance.
Russian President Vladimir Putin did not attend. Russia was instead represented by the culture minister, Olga Liubimova.
Other world leaders included French President Emmanuel Macron, Peruvian President Dina Boluarte and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
King Charles did not attend, and instead sent Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, as his representative – a decision that follows precedent, as Queen Elizabeth sent representatives to attend the inaugurations of both Pope Francis and Pope Benedict.
Leo on Russia-Ukraine war
At the end of Sunday’s Mass, Leo expressed hope for negotiations to bring a “just and lasting peace” in “martyred” Ukraine.
Leo has previously vowed to make “every effort” to help end the war. Leo was pictured shaking Zelenskyy’s hand after Mass.
Leo would host the Ukrainian leader for a private audience later Sunday, according to the Vatican.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Delegations representing countries from around the world attended Pope Leo XIV’s inaugural Mass on Sunday.
Vice President JD Vance, his wife Usha, along with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his wife, Jeanette, were among the American delegation.
Vance was pictured shaking hands with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy , who was in attendance with his wife, Olena. Vance and Zelenskyy sparred publicly during a televised White House meeting earlier this year over potential peace negotiations with Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin did not attend. Russia was instead represented by the culture minister, Olga Liubimova.
Canada’s newly elected prime minister, Mark Carney, was also present at the Mass.
Other world leaders who attended the Mass in the Vatican included French President Emmanuel Macron and Peruvian President Dina Boluarte.
Pope Leo XIV will host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for a private meeting on Sunday following the pope’s inaugural Mass, the Vatican said.
Zelenskyy and his wife, Olena, were among world leaders present for Leo’s inaugural Mass in St. Peter’s Square. Leo was pictured shaking Zelenskyy’s hand after Mass.
The pope had focused on themes of unity and communion during his homily, saying he believed the Catholic Church could become a sign of peace in the world. At the end of the Mass, Leo expressed hope for negotiations to bring a “just and lasting peace” in “martyred” Ukraine.
Leo has previously vowed to make “every effort” to help end the war in Ukraine.
On Saturday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, the Vatican’s lead on the situation in Ukraine, saying he would be discussing potential ways the Vatican could help “the status of the talks" and "the path forward.”
When reporters asked if the Vatican could be a peace broker, Rubio replied that it could be a venue for all sides to meet.
“I wouldn’t call it broker, but it’s certainly — I think it’s a place that both sides would be comfortable going,” Rubio said.
“So we’ll talk about all of that and obviously always grateful to the Vatican for their willingness to play this constructive and positive role,” he added.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
{{#rendered}}Pope Leo XIV presented a message of love and unity in his homily during an inaugural Mass on Sunday, saying he wanted the Catholic Church to be a force for peace in the world.
Leo, history’s first American pope, appeared in St. Peter’s Square before 150,000 faithful and world leaders.
“I would like that our first great desire be for a united church, a sign of unity and communion, which becomes a leaven for a reconciled world,” he said. “In this our time, we still see too much discord, too many wounds caused by hatred, violence, prejudice, the fear of difference, and an economic paradigm that exploits the Earth’s resources and marginalizes the poorest.”
“Let us build a church founded on God’s love, a sign of unity, a missionary church that opens its arms to the world, proclaims the word, allows itself to be made restless by history, and becomes a leaven of harmony for humanity,” Leo continued, referencing some of the themes of Francis' pontificate.
Leo also expressed hope for negotiations to bring a “just and lasting peace” in Ukraine and offered prayers for the people of Gaza – children, families and elderly who are “reduced to hunger.”
Leo did not mention the hostages taken by Hamas from southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, as Francis usually did when praying for Gaza.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A long roster of leaders from around the globe are set to gather in Vatican City for the May 18 inauguration mass of Pope Leo XIV, the first American elected to the lead the Catholic Church. Notably absent were King Charles, who is sending Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, as his representative.
POPE LEO XIV MAKES FIRST SOCIAL MEDIA POST, CALLING FOR PEACE
As Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told the Royal Insider, “The king would not attend as he is Supreme Governor of the Church of England and could not, so as to speak, bow before the head of another faith.”
The decision follows precedent, as Queen Elizabeth sent representatives to attend the inaugurations of both Pope Francis and Pope Benedict.
King Charles also sent Prince William to attend Francis’ April 26 funeral on his behalf. The palace explained that “protocol and precedence” dictate “that the Sovereign does not attend funerals.”
The brother of the newly elected Pope Leo XIV, who made history by becoming the first American pontiff, shared his "overwhelming" reaction to the news on Thursday.
John Prevost told FOX 32 that "there are no words" to describe how proud he was of his baby brother.
"It’s overwhelming pride, but it’s also an overwhelming responsibility, being the first American Pope from Chicago – and a relative. Frightening," Prevost said.
Prevost said his brother’s path to pope began at a young age, having gone straight into seminary after eighth grade.
"So, the whole high school years, college years, we didn't really know him other than the summer vacation," he said.
This is an excerpt from an article written by Fox News' Bradford Betz.
{{#rendered}}"Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope. It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope," Trump said on his Truth Social platform shortly after white smoke emerged from the Vatican indicating the conclave had come to a decision on who will lead the Catholic Church.
"It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope. What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!"
Trump added to reporters at the White House that he was "a little bit surprised" by the selection of Cardinal Prevost, but reiterated multiple times what an honor the selection was for America.
"What greater honor could there be?" Trump posited to reporters. He also told them that the administration has already been in touch with the Vatican and expects to have the president visit the new pope in the future. It was not made clear how soon that meeting might take place.
This is an excerpt from an article written by Fox News' Alec Schemmel.
Pope Leo XIV was welcomed as the newest pontiff by a sea of faithful and an uninterrupted view of St. Peter’s Square on May 8, 2025.
Conversely, Pope Leo, born Robert Francis Prevost, introduced himself to the public speaking Italian and Spanish, and greeted onlookers both in person and virtually with a concise speech about building bridges and fostering hope for a synodal church.
"In his opening remarks, he mentioned being a missionary church that includes all people, and that comes right out of Pope Francis," Dennis Doyle, professor emeritus at the University of Dayton in Ohio, told Fox News Digital.
Doyle taught at the Catholic research university for 40 years.
Pope Francis, the 266th Vicar of Christ, created Provest a cardinal in 2023.
"Pope Francis’ first major document was called ‘Evangelii gaudium,’ ‘The joy of the gospel," Doyle said.
In his evanescent address, Pope Leo XIV said, "To all you brothers and sisters of Rome, Italy, of all the world, we want to be a synodal church, walking and always seeking peace, charity, closeness, especially to those who are suffering."
"Pope Francis was really big into this idea of synodality," Doyle said.
"For him, in his very brief remarks, to say we must be a synodal church, that is a big signal that he intends to continue much of what Pope Francis was about," he said of Pope Leo XIV.
This is an excerpt from an article written by Fox News' Gabriele Regalbuto.
The conclave that elected Pope Leo XIV lasted for only one day and was comprised of 133 cardinals, age 80 or younger, who were permitted to participate in the vote.
Not much is known about the secretive proceedings other than the conclave is to have no contact with the outside world until a new pope is elected, though according to one BBC report which spoke with Cardinal Nichols, the Archbishop of Westminster, the event was “immensely peaceful.”
The cardinal said there were no discussions vying for certain future popes or any voting dissuasion, as is often depicted in Hollywood renditions of the age honored ritual.
Other reports suggested that voting was a bit more contentious with the majority of Italian cardinals backing Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who was listed as a favorite to be the next pope and who in the first round of votes apparently garnered some 40 votes.
In order to win the papacy a candidate needed to secure at least a two-thirds majority vote, though according to a report by the Wall Street Journal Pope Leo had garnered over 100 votes.
{{#rendered}}The first American pontiff, Pope Leo XIV, though pointing to Francis’ papacy symbolically, dressed in traditional garb including a red mozzetta and white cassock. Pope Francis, in 2013, was notably absent of adornments on the balcony for his first public appearance as elected pontiff.
"He's signaling he intends to be traditional in some ways," Doyle said. "It'll be interesting to see if he lives in the Apostolic Palace."
The papal apartments at the Apostolic Palace are the official residence of the pope. Pope Francis broke tradition and declined residency there and, instead, lived at Domus Sanctae Marthae, the location where cardinal electors stay during a conclave.
"In some ways, maybe he's going to be different from Francis," Doyle said. "Francis did do some things that alienated traditionalists."
This is an excerpt from an article written by Fox News' Gabriele Regalbuto.
The morning after his election, Robert Prevost — now Pope Leo XIV and the first American pontiff in the Catholic Church’s 2,000-year history — presided over his first Mass.
The message from the pope – who, like his predecessor, appears to hail from the more inclusive and progressive wing of the Catholic Church – does not appear to be receptive to some in the "America First" movement.
Steve Bannon, the former White House chief strategist in Trump's first administration and a conservative Catholic, wrote, "Worst pick ever," in responding on social media to the new pope's election.
Pro-Trump conservative commentator Joey Mannarino took to X to charge that "the new Pope has recently attacked JD Vance, shown solidarity with Kilmar Abrego-Garcia and begged Trump to open the borders like Biden had them. This guy is worse than Francis."
However, influential conservative activist and commentator Charlie Kirk, a MAGA world rock star and Trump ally who leads the powerful Turning Point USA youth organization, was more measured.
"Let’s just say, not so great tweets about having some willingness for open borders. We’ll see kind of how he is on that. Also some George Floyd stuff that I’m not too crazy about," Kirk said in a video posted on X.
This is an excerpt from an article written by Fox News' Paul Steinhauser.
As silence and stillness calmed the eager world, Cardinal Protodeacon Dominique Mamberti, overlooking a sea of tens of thousands of teary-eyed viewers in St. Peter’s Square, introduced Catholics and non-faithful to the newest pontiff.
American Pope Leo XIV , born Robert Francis Prevost, was elected to take the papal seat and succeed the deceased Pope Francis on May 8, 2025, after four rounds of conclave voting by 133 members of the College of Cardinals.
Prevost was created a cardinal by Pope Francis in 2023.
Pope Leo XIV celebrated his electoral triumph by praying the prayer of the blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, with the world.
"I think that that was one of the ways he symbolized his traditional piety," Patrick Brennan, chair of Catholic Legal Studies at Villanova University, told Fox News Digital.
"His desire to signal to the world that he's a Catholic who prays the way that Catholics traditionally do. Pope Francis was known for his great devotion to the blessed Virgin Mary, which is part of the reason he made the unusual decision to be buried in the church of Santa Maria Maggiore."
This is an excerpt from an article written by Fox News' Gabriele Regalbuto.
{{#rendered}}I was one of the army of commentators who confidently asserted that no American would be elected pope. Relying on the common wisdom, I told numerous journalists and broadcasters that until the United States was no longer a superpower, the cardinals would never hand governance of the universal Church to a citizen of the USA.
Well, the electors and the Holy Spirit proved all of us rather dramatically wrong. When the white smoke occurred much earlier than any of us expected, I assumed that the frontrunner, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, had been chosen; so, my astonishment knew no limits when the name Robert Francis Prevost was announced from the front loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica.
And Prevost was not only an American; he was a Chicagoan, raised about a 25-minute drive from my hometown. All of it seemed surreal, impossible.
Finally, he appeared on the balcony, garbed in the white cassock of the pope, but also wearing the formal mozetta (elaborate shoulder cape) and embroidered stole, traditional adornments that Pope Francis famously eschewed when he first presented himself.
This is an excerpt from an Opinion article written by Bishop Robert Barron.
Pope Leo XIV’s inaugural Mass began Sunday morning in St. Peter’s Square.
The new pontiff arrived at St Peter's Square driving around 9 a.m. in his white popemobile, standing and waving to the crowds.
The inaugural ceremony began at around 10 a.m. local time, with more than 150 delegations in attendance, which featured U.S. Vice President JD Vance, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, French President Emmanuel Macron, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Head Rabbi of Rome Riccardo Di Segni.
More than 6,000 security officials were working at the ceremony.
In a recent speech with members of the Eastern Catholic tradition, the pope offered the Vatican as a place to hold negotiations for world peace.
The leader of the Roman Catholic Church does not get paid what many consider a traditional salary. Instead, the Vatican provides for the pontiff's needs, from housing, food, transportation and other expenses in the form of stipends and allowances.
The Vatican , referred to as "the world's smallest country," is sustained by "an economy that relies on a combination of donations, private enterprises, and investments to generate revenue," according to Investopedia.
Pope Francis declined any sort of salary when he took office in 2013, The Economic Times reported back in February, adding that the pontiff at the time had a net worth of "around $16 million, which includes various assets provided to him as the pope."
This is an excerpt from an article written by Fox News' Pilar Arias and Daniella Genovese.
{{#rendered}}Born Robert Prevost on Sept. 14, 1955 in Chicago, Ill., Pope Leo XIV was a suspected front-runner to succeed Pope Francis after his passing.
Leo XIV was first brought to the Vatican by Francis to serve as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops in January 2023.
Francis then elevated him to the position of Cardinal in September 2023.
Before making it to the highest position afforded in the Catholic Church, he first entered the novitiate of the Order of Saint Augustine in Saint Louis, in 1977, which essentially marked his period of training before he took his "holy orders."
In August 1981, he gave his solemn vows, and by 1982 he was ordained as a priest.
By 1985 he joined the Augustinian mission in Peru, where he served as chancellor of the Territorial Prélature of Chulucanas for one year.
Between 1987 and 1988, he returned to the U.S., where he served as pastor for vocations and director of missions for the Augustinian Province of Chicago, before he returned to Peru for another 10 years to head the Augustinian seminary in Trujillo and teach Cannon Law.
Eventually, he made his way back to his hometown, where, in 1999, he was elected provincial prior of the "Mother of Good Counsel" in Chicago.
Leo would go on to be elected twice as leader of the Augustinian religious order, a 13th century order founded by St. Augustine.
He had caught the attention of Francis, who, after becoming pope in 2013, moved Leo back to Peru in 2014 to serve as the administrator and eventually archbishop of Chiclayo.
This is an excerpt from an article written by Fox News' Caitlin McFall.
Following the liturgy, Pope Leo XIV is expected to return to St. Peter’s Basilica to meet with heads of state and religious delegations who will be among the 250,000 attendees of the inaugural Mass.
Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, both of whom are Catholic, are reportedly planning on attending the Mass, along with a host of other world leaders.
The EU’s President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, the U.K.’s Prince Edward, Argentina’s President Javier Milei, Israeli President Israeli Herzog, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are expected to join the 200 foreign delegations traveling to Rome on Sunday.
The greeting of world leaders is not a part of the liturgy and is apparently meant as an “act of diplomatic and ecumenical respect,” according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
The pope is not expected to greet the faithful in his popemobile after the mass.
Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, both Catholic, will attend the inaugural mass for the first U.S.-born pope, Leo XIV, in Vatican City on Sunday, joined by their wives Second Lady Usha Vance and Jeanette Rubio.
The White House press release announcing their attendance noted that Vance is the first Catholic convert to serve as vice president.
Shortly before being named pope, Leo had criticized Vance’s stance on immigration on X.
Vance addressed the posts, telling Hugh Hewitt on May 9 he tries not to “play the politicization of the pope game.”
“I’m sure he’s going to say a lot of things that I love [and] I’m sure he’ll say some things that I disagree with, but I’ll continue to pray for him and the Church.”
“The Church is about saving souls and about spreading the Gospel,” he added. “And yeah, it’s going to touch public policy from time to time as all human institutions do, but that’s not really what it’s about. And I think it’s much healthier for the American media, and certainly for Catholics, to not take such a, you know, politics in the age of social media attitude towards the papacy.”
{{#rendered}}The inaugural Mass for Pope Leo XIV at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City will commence at 4 a.m. Eastern Time (ET), which is 10 a.m. in Rome, Italy. It can be viewed on Fox News Digital, and the full service will also be streamed on LiveNOW from FOX at both 4 a.m. ET and repeated at 9 a.m. ET.
BISHOP ROBERT BARRON: WHAT LEO’S CHOICE OF NAME TELLS US ABOUT THE NEW POPE
The inauguration of the first American pope will be rich with symbolism, Vatican News reports. The new pontiff will pray in and incense the site of the tomb of St. Peter, Jesus’ apostle and the first pope of the Catholic Church.
Later, at an altar outside St. Peter’s Basilica, three Cardinals will bestow a prayer and unique adornments upon Pope Leo XIV. The first, the Pallium, is a wool vestment that “evokes the image of the Good Shepherd who lays the lost sheep on his shoulders.“ The second, the Ring of the Fisherman, recalls “the seal of faith entrusted to Peter to strengthen his brethren.”
Pope Leo XIV’s inaugural mass will take place on Sunday May 18 at 4AM ET (10AM Rome time) in St. Peter’s Basilica and is a solemn ceremony steeped in ritual and symbolism in a direct tribute to the first Pope of Rome, the Apostle Peter.
The Petrine Ministry will begin in the Basilica with the new pontiff descending to the chapel of the Tomb of Saint Peter, where Pope Leo will first pause for prayer and then incense the site – signifying the direct link of the pope to the apostle.
While Pope Leo joins the procession, a litany hymn known as “Laudes Regiae” will be sung to invoke the “intercession” of the holy Pontiffs, martyrs, and saints of the Roman Church, according to Vatican News.
Following the procession the pope is expected to be presented with “ancient episcopal insignia” associated with Saint Peter, including the Pallium, which is a liturgical vestment made of lamb wool and is a nod to the Good Shepard, and the Ring of the Fisherman, which signifies Peter’s faith in Jesus.
Both items serve as a symbol of Pope Leo XIV having assumed the role of the papacy.
World leaders are again expected to be among the 250,000 people expected to attend the Mass.
Coverage for this event has ended.