Historic Inauguration: Pope Leo XIV Welcomes World Leaders to St. Peter's Square
An estimated 250,000 pilgrims are set to gather in St. Peter's Square this Sunday at 10 AM local time for the inaugural mass of Pope Leo XIV, marking a historic moment as the first US pontiff assumes leadership of the Roman Catholic Church. The newly elected pope, Cardinal Robert Prevost of Chicago, succeeds the late Pope Francis following a remarkably swift conclave that concluded in under 26 hours earlier this month.
World leaders and royals will join the throngs of worshippers, including US Vice President JD Vance, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, and Britain’s Prince Edward. Other notable figures include Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Argentinian President Javier Milei, and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
True to tradition, Pope Leo XIV is expected to arrive in a popemobile, interacting with the faithful before proceeding with the mass. The ceremony will also feature a procession of cardinals leading into St. Peter's Basilica, where the pope will receive significant gifts that symbolize his papacy. These gifts include a gold signet ring, known as the Fisherman's Ring, representing St. Peter, the first pope, and a lamb's wool pallium, signifying the pope’s role as a shepherd.
US representation at this monumental event includes both JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Interesting to note, prior to his election, Prevost expressed critical views on the policies of the Trump administration, particularly concerning immigration, on his social media account on X (formerly Twitter). His candidness led to notable backlash from Trump's conservative supporters, with activists questioning his alignment with the party's ideals.
Despite previous disagreements with Trump and former Vice President Mike Pence, both of whom have sparred with the Vatican over various issues, the new pope’s inauguration signifies a turning point that incorporates a broader and perhaps more inclusive dialogue.
Pope Leo XIV has indicated his intent to remain active on social media through official papal accounts on X and Instagram, where he currently communicates in nine languages to an audience of 52 million followers. In his first post as pope, he conveyed a message of peace and dialogue, stating, "The Holy See is willing to help enemies meet so they may look each other in the eye and so people may be given back the dignity they deserve, the dignity of peace. With heart in hand, I say to the leaders of nations: let us meet, let us dialogue, let us negotiate."
As the world watches this significant event, the presence of dignitaries from around the globe underscores the potential for Pope Leo XIV to influence not only spiritual matters but global diplomacy as well.
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