Pope Leo XIV Begins His Historic Pontificate with a Call for Unity

Pope Leo XIV on his popemobile tours St. Peter's Square at the Vatican prior to the inaugural Mass of his pontificate, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)

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Pope Leo XIV waves at the end of a Mass for the formal inauguration of his pontificate, in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Sunday, May 18, 2025.(AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Pope Leo XIV Begins His Historic Pontificate with a Call for Unity

Patricia Romero - International
Tell Us Worldwide

VATICAN CITY - In a momentous inaugural Mass at St. Peter’s Square, Pope Leo XIV—the first American to lead the Catholic Church—vowed to work for unity, emphasizing his vision of the Church as a beacon of peace in the world. His message of communion resonated through the vast crowd of an estimated 200,000 pilgrims, dignitaries, and royalty gathered for the occasion.

Leo formally commenced his papacy by embarking on his first popemobile tour, a tradition that has come to symbolize the global presence of the pontiff. Smiling and waving from the open-air vehicle, the 69-year-old Augustinian missionary exuded warmth, though he did not pause for the customary gestures of blessing infants or greeting the crowd.

During the solemn Mass, Leo appeared visibly moved when the two sacred symbols of the papacy—the lambswool stole draped over his shoulders and the fisherman’s ring placed on his finger—were bestowed upon him. As if suddenly grasping the profound weight of his new role, he gazed at the ring and seal before clasping his hands in silent prayer.

A Diplomatic Affair

Leading the U.S. delegation was Vice President JD Vance, who had been among the last foreign officials to meet with Pope Francis before his passing. Arriving in Rome late Saturday, Vance paid his respects at Francis’ tomb before joining the ceremonies honoring Chicago-born Leo.

Strict diplomatic protocols dictated the seating arrangement, with the United States and Peru granted front-row seats in recognition of Leo’s dual citizenship. Vance—who had previously clashed with Francis over immigration policy—was joined by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who arrived early to advance discussions on Russia-Ukraine peace efforts.

Among the numerous world leaders in attendance was Peruvian President Dina Boluarte, alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Russia had initially planned to send its culture minister but was ultimately represented by its ambassador.

Protocol extended to attire as well: While most dignitaries donned traditional black, Catholic queens and princesses—including Spain’s Queen Letizia and Monaco’s Princess Charlene—were granted the privilege of wearing white. In a striking display of interfaith representation, delegations from Christian denominations, Judaism, Buddhism, Islam, Zoroastrianism, Hinduism, Sikhism, and Jainism were present.

A Message of Hope

Security was notably stringent, mirroring measures taken for Pope Francis' funeral on April 26, which had drawn 250,000 attendees. Vatican officials estimated that 200,000 filled St. Peter’s Square and its surrounding streets, where massive screens and facilities were set up to accommodate the throng.

In his closing remarks, Leo urged world leaders to pursue negotiations for a "just and lasting peace" in Ukraine, while offering prayers for the suffering people of Gaza—especially children, families, and the elderly enduring dire conditions. Unlike Francis, however, Leo did not mention hostages taken by Hamas in its October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel.

American Catholics Celebrate

The pope’s election has stirred excitement among American Catholics. Susan Hanssen, a professor from Chicago now teaching in Rome, expressed confidence that Leo’s message of unity would resonate globally. "I think he will inspire," she reflected. "His words—unity within doctrine and in love—were particularly meaningful."

Amid the celebration, U.S. seminarian Ethan Menning, 21, from Omaha, Nebraska, proudly wrapped himself in an American flag he had picked up at a truck stop in Iowa. "Rome has always felt like home for Catholics, but seeing one of our own on Peter’s throne—it’s almost as if Jesus himself feels more accessible," he said.

The symbols of the papacy bestowed upon Leo carried deep meaning: The pallium stole, resting on his shoulders, signifies the shepherd guiding his flock, while the fisherman’s ring serves as the official seal of the papacy, echoing Jesus’ call to Peter to cast his nets.

Another moment of symbolic importance was the rite of obedience—where representatives of various groups, including cardinals, bishops, priests, deacons, nuns, married couples, and young Catholics—pledged their allegiance to the new pope. In contrast to past traditions, where all cardinals swore fealty, recent papal installations have adopted a more inclusive format.

A Dream Realized

For Gregory and Susan Hudak, longtime Chicago residents visiting Rome, the experience was nothing short of serendipitous. Having booked their trip months prior, they had hoped merely to see the Vatican but found themselves in the midst of history.

Watching Pope Leo XIV pass by in his popemobile was an unforgettable moment for Gary Hudak, a former altar boy donning a Chicago Bears hat. "It was better than seeing Michael Jordan play," he said. "I came here thinking I'd be lucky to glimpse the Sistine Chapel. Seeing the pope was beyond anything I could have imagined. It was a treasure, plain and simple."