Greeting over more than 200,000 pilgrims, world leaders and Christian clergy in attendance, Pope Leo XIV inaugurated his pontificate with a mass in St. Peter's Square in Vatican
Riccardo De Luca • 18 May 2025 • update: 18 May 2025
Pope Leo XIV's inauguration Mass at the Vatican
VATICAN CITY, VATICAN, MAY 18:
Pope Leo XIV celebrates the Mass for the inauguration of his pontificate in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, on May 18, 2025. ( Riccardo De Luca - Anadolu Agency )Riccardo De Luca
Pope Leo XIV's inauguration Mass at the Vatican
VATICAN CITY, VATICAN, MAY 18: Faithful celebrate with a US flag before the arrival of Pope Leo XIV to celebrate the Mass for the inauguration of his pontificate in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, on May 18, 2025. ( Riccardo De Luca - Anadolu Agency )Riccardo De Luca
Pope Leo XIV's inauguration Mass at the Vatican
VATICAN CITY, VATICAN, MAY 18: Pope Leo XIV arrives, greets the public before the Mass for the inauguration of his pontificate in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, on May 18, 2025. ( Riccardo De Luca - Anadolu Agency )Riccardo De Luca
Pope Leo XIV's inauguration Mass at the Vatican
VATICAN CITY, VATICAN, MAY 18: Pope Leo XIV arrives, greets the public before the Mass for the inauguration of his pontificate in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, on May 18, 2025. ( Riccardo De Luca - Anadolu Agency )Riccardo De Luca
Pope Leo XIV's inauguration Mass at the Vatican
VATICAN CITY, VATICAN, MAY 18: Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy (L) and United States Vice President JD Vance (R) wait for the arrival of Pope Leo XIV for a Mass celebrating the inauguration of his pontificate in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, on May 18, 2025. ( Riccardo De Luca - Anadolu Agency )Riccardo De Luca
Pope Leo XIV's inauguration Mass at the Vatican
VATICAN CITY, VATICAN, MAY 18: Pope Leo XIV (L) receives the pallium during the Mass for the inauguration of his pontificate in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, on May 18, 2025. ( Riccardo De Luca - Anadolu Agency )Riccardo De Luca
People at Pope Leo XIV celebrated Inauguration Mass in St Peter Square
VATICAN CITY - MAY 18: Cardinals are seen during the inauguration ceremony as newly elected Pope Leo XIV celebrates the Inauguration Mass marking the beginning of his pontificate, attended by 200 delegations including heads of state, ministers, and religious representatives, in Vatican City, on May 18, 2025. ( Valeria Ferraro - Anadolu Agency )Valeria Ferraro
People at Pope Leo XIV celebrated Inauguration Mass in St Peter Square
VATICAN CITY - MAY 18: Pope Leo XIV is seen during the ceremony as he celebrates the Inauguration Mass marking the beginning of his pontificate, attended by 200 delegations including heads of state, ministers, and religious representatives, in Vatican City, on May 18, 2025. ( Valeria Ferraro - Anadolu Agency )Valeria Ferraro
People at Pope Leo XIV celebrated Inauguration Mass in St Peter Square
VATICAN CITY - MAY 18: King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain (center, bottom line), European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (center left), Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (center), and his wife Olena Zelenska (center right) are seen among the guests as newly elected Pope Leo XIV celebrates the Inauguration Mass marking the beginning of his pontificate, attended by 200 delegations including heads of state, ministers, and religious representatives, in Vatican City, on May 18, 2025. ( Valeria Ferraro - Anadolu Agency )Valeria Ferraro
People at Pope Leo XIV celebrated Inauguration Mass in St Peter Square
VATICAN CITY - MAY 18: U.S. Vice President JD Vance (C, bottom line), his wife Usha Vance (L, bottom), Peruvian President Dina Boluarte (C), Italian President Sergio Mattarella (R), and his daughter Laura Mattarella (C-R) are seen kneeling during the ceremony as newly elected Pope Leo XIV celebrates the Inauguration Mass marking the beginning of his pontificate, attended by 200 delegations including heads of state, ministers, and religious representatives, in Vatican City, on May 18, 2025. ( Valeria Ferraro - Anadolu Agency )Valeria Ferraro
Tens of thousands witness Pope Leo XIV’s inauguration in Vatican
VATICAN CITY, VATICAN - MAY 18: (----EDITORIAL USE ONLY - MANDATORY CREDIT - 'MASSIMO SESTINI / POLIZIA DI STATO / HANDOUT' - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS----)
An aerial view from Police helicopter of the inauguration ceremony of Pope Leo XIV, who was elected as the new leader of the Catholic Church at St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City, Vatican on May 18, 2025. ( Massimo Sestini / Polizia di Stato - Anadolu Agency )Massimo Sestini / Polizia di Stato
Inauguration Mass for Pope Leo XIV in St Peter Square
VATICAN CITY, VATICAN - MAY 18: Pope Leo XIV seen arriving from the Papal Basilica in Vatican City, Vatican on May 18, 2025. Newly elected Pope Leo XIV celebrated the Inauguration Mass for the beginning of his pontificate at the presence of 200 delegations, including head of States, Ministries, and religious representatives.
( Valeria Ferraro - Anadolu Agency )Valeria Ferraro
