Pontiff Leo XIV, the inaugural American pope, set to perform his initial mass as a religious head.
A New Chapter Begins: Pope Leo XIV Takes the Reins
VATICAN CITY - Pope Leo XIV, the first American at the helm of the Catholic Church, will commence his reign this Friday. The world eagerly anticipates observing the inaugural steps of this new pope, who was elected by fellow cardinals in a secret conclave within the Vatican's iconic Sistine Chapel.
At 11 am (0900 GMT) Friday, the 69-year-old Leo will returned to the Sistine Chapel to celebrate a private mass with cardinals, with the proceedings broadcast live by the Vatican. Thousands of well-wishers cheered as he appeared on the balcony of St Peter's Basilica on Thursday evening, many of whom were unaware of his background.
Born in Chicago and spent two decades carrying out missionary work in Peru, Leo's election as the 267th pope may not have made global headlines, but he has been on the radar of many Vatican watchers due to his potential to lead the Church. Over the coming days, we can expect scrutiny of his actions and words, from Friday's mass to Sunday's Regina Coeli prayer and a meeting with journalists at the Vatican on Monday.
Building Bridges
In his inaugural speech to the masses gathered in St Peter's Square, Leo echoed the sentiments of his predecessor Pope Francis, calling for peace and unity:
"Help us, and each other, to build bridges through dialogue, through encounter, to come together as one people, always in peace," he said. "We must seek together how to be a missionary Church, a Church that builds bridges, which holds dialogues, which is always open."
World leaders have been quick to reach out with congratulations, pledging cooperation on pressing global issues. But Leo faces a monumental task. He must bring his moral voice to bear on the conflict-riddled world stage, while also seeking to mend a divided Church and address longstanding issues, such as the fallout from the sexual abuse scandal.
As Cardinal Prevost, Leo was known for championing the rights of the underprivileged, vocally opposing the anti-migrant policies of US President Donald Trump. Yet, Trump welcomed his election as pope, expressing it as a great honor for the United States.
A Consensus Candidate
The crowds erupted in cheers upon witnessing white smoke billowing from the Sistine Chapel chimney, the traditional signal of a new pope's election. With the selection of Prevost, experts suggest the cardinals opted for continuity with the progressive reign of Pope Francis. Although Leo is expected to exhibit a more cautious approach than his predecessor, his election marks a significant chapter in the history of the Catholic Church.
Sources:1. The Associated Press2. BBC News3. The New York Times4. The Atlantic
- The general public, known as wishers, eagerly anticipate observing Pope Leo XIV's inaugural steps as they commence his reign.
- The online broadcast of Friday's mass by the Vatican will allow many people worldwide to watch the event, including those interested in politics, general-news, and entertainment.
- As Cardinal Prevost, Pope Leo XIV was known for championing the rights of the underprivileged and seeking consensus, similar to the approach taken by his predecessor Pope Francis.
- With his focus on building bridges and maintaining continuity, Pope Leo XIV's election marks a significant online chapter in the history of the Catholic Church.
