Pope Leo XIV held his first Mass at Saistin Chapel on Friday morning, just a day after being elected to succeed the late Pope Francis as the head of the Catholic Church.
Born in Dalton, Illinois, the new Pope delivered his homily in Spanish, Italian, and English.
“You have given me that cross and called me to this mission. I know I can count on each and every one of you to walk alongside me,” he expressed.
The Pope, who hails from Chicago, makes history as the first American pope. He speaks multiple languages, including English, Spanish, French, Italian, and Portuguese, and is also able to read Latin and German, as noted by the National Catholic Reporter.
Before his appointment as a cardinal by Pope Francis, he spent much of his life as a missionary in Peru.
His inaugural Mass emphasized the need for outreach, which he described as “deeply needed” in today’s world.
“The loss of faith is often accompanied by a tragic sense of meaninglessness in life, neglect of mercy, grievous violations of human dignity, family crises, and various other wounds that afflict our society,” he said, referencing challenges facing the community, according to transcripts from a Catholic leader.
“And these are just a few,” he added.
Global leaders, including former Presidents Obama and Trump, extended their best wishes for his endeavors and prayed for his pursuit of world peace.
“This is a historic day for the United States, and we pray for him as he starts his sacred mission, regardless of his beliefs, to lead the Catholic Church and serve as a role model for many,” stated former President Obama.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his hopes that Pope Leo XIV would foster hope and reconciliation among different faiths, sharing his sentiments on his official account.
After the election, the Pope’s brother remarked that he aims to follow in the footsteps of his predecessors by serving those who feel voiceless. He also indicated that the Pope had previously expressed criticism of the Trump administration.
Pope Francis passed away on April 21st at the age of 88. He was notably the first sitting pope to die since Pope John Paul II in 2005. Pope Benedict, who resigned in 2013, died in 2022 at 95.
