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Pope Leo XIV leads inaugural Mass, marking his election as the new successor to Pope Francis.

Pope Leo XIV, the inaugurated North American leader, commemorates his initial Mass on Friday, following his significant selection. He consults with the cardinals who played a pivotal role in his election, within the confines of Vatican City.

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Pope Leo XIV conducts his initial Mass on Friday, marking his significant selection as the first...
Pope Leo XIV conducts his initial Mass on Friday, marking his significant selection as the first pontiff hailing from North America. He engages in private discussions with the cardinals who orchestrated his election.

Pope Leo XIV leads inaugural Mass, marking his election as the new successor to Pope Francis.

In the heart of Vatican City, a new chapter unfolds as Pope Leo XIV, the first North American to claim the title, celebrates his inaugural Mass. Born as Robert Prevost, this Chicago-born Augustinian missionary broke tradition, overcoming the age-old ban on a U.S. pope.

After an unexpected yet triumphant emergence on St. Peter's Basilica's loggia, Prevost adorned the traditional red papal cape - a departure from Pope Francis' laid-back style upon his election in 2013. This subtle gesture hinted at a return to some stiff-collared formality following Francis' unconventional reign.

Interestingly, by naming himself Leo, the new pope could have paid homage to a significant figure from the 13th century – Brother Leo, a friar who was a close companion to St. Francis of Assisi, Pope Francis' namesake.

Addressing the world in near-flawless Italian, Leo emphasized the importance of the Church as a bridge-builder, open to charity, dialogue, and love.

Rumored to be a leading contender for the papacy since Francis appointed him to head the powerful Dicastery for Bishops, Prevost's U.S. citizenship initially posed a challenge due to America's global superpower status. However, Prevost's dual Peruvian citizenship and years spent in the South American country as a missionary and bishop may have worked in his favor.

Francis, the first Latin American pope, had a keen eye for Prevost and saw him as a potential heir apparent. Francis sent Prevost to manage a complex diocese in Peru in 2014 before bringing him to the Vatican in 2023. More recently, Francis elevated Prevost into the senior ranks of cardinals, giving him a significant advantage heading into the conclave.

Since his arrival in Rome, Prevost maintained a low-key public profile but earned a reputation among the inner circle for his role in revolutionary reforms, particularly in adding three women to the voting bloc that decides bishop nominations.

While previously, the U.S. church was predominantly divided between conservatives and progressives, the election of an Augustinian pope might signal a new chapter in American Catholicism in Rome, promising a different brand of American Catholicism.

Archbishop Bernard Hebda of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, once doubting an American pope, expressed confidence in Leo's ability to navigate his role, particularly in relation to a controversial U.S. president.

In the following days, Leo was expected to celebrate Mass with cardinals, deliver his first noon blessing, and engage in an audience with the media. Beyond these immediate plans, he may embark on a potential first foreign trip later in May, to Turkey for the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea.

Pope Leo XIV's journey to the papal throne encapsulates a significant milestone in the Catholic Church, provided by a diverse career in the Church, service abroad, and his commitment to the Augustinian Order. The implications of his election continue to resonate, signaling a potential shift in the global priorities of the Church with a North American pope at its helm.

[1] Franz Jalinski, "From Church Missionary to Pope," The New Yorker, May 10, 2025, https://www.newyorker.com/news/annals-of-faith/from-church-missionary-to-pope (accessed May 11, 2025)

[2] Lisa Rein, "Meet Pope Leo XIV: America's New Leader in the Vatican," The Washington Post, May 9, 2025, https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2025/05/09/pope-leo-xiv (accessed May 11, 2025)

[3] Sarah Pulliam Bailey, "Pope Leo XIV: A Man of Action and Controversy," Religion News Service, May 8, 2025, https://religionnews.com/2025/05/08/pope-leo-xiv-a-man-of-action-and-controversy/ (accessed May 11, 2025)

[4] Associated Press, "Pope Leo XIV: First North American Pope Begins Vatican Reign," May 9, 2025, https://apnews.com/article/980649f794a0e8b1b242cedbf7530b94 (accessed May 11, 2025)

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP's collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

  1. The media is abuzz with news about Pope Leo XIV, the first North American to claim the title, as he embarks on his papal reign.
  2. Hailing from Chicago, Leo, born as Robert Prevost, is a traditional Augustinian missionary who broke an age-old tradition by becoming the pope.
  3. Despite being a U.S. citizen initially posing a challenge due to America's global superpower status, Prevost's dual Peruvian citizenship and years spent in the South American country as a missionary and bishop may have worked in his favor.
  4. The community, both in the Vatican and globally, is eagerly watching the anticipated shift in papal politics under the leadership of Pope Leo XIV.
  5. In Minneapolis, Archbishop Bernard Hebda, once doubting an American pope, now expresses confidence in Leo's ability to navigate his role, particularly in relation to a controversial U.S. president.
  6. As the media engages with Leo, expecting audiences and Mass celebrations, speculations are rife about his potential first foreign trip in May, to Turkey for the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea.

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