Vatican City – In his first homily and public address as the newly elected Bishop of Rome, Pope Leo XIV set a clear tone for his papacy: peace, unity, and a Church faithful to Jesus Christ and open to the world.
Celebrating Mass with the College of Cardinals inside the Sistine Chapel, the former Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost began his homily in English, signalling a universal embrace of the global Church.
“God has called me by your election to succeed the Prince of the Apostles, and has entrusted this treasure to me so that, with his help, I may be its faithful administrator,” Pope Leo XIV declared.
In a reflective and sobering message, the new Pope acknowledged the growing pressures on the Christian faith in a secularised world. “Even today, there are many settings in which the Christian faith is considered absurd, meant for the weak and unintelligent. Settings where other securities are preferred, like technology, money, success, power, or pleasure,” he noted.
Later, appearing before thousands gathered in St. Peter’s Square and millions watching around the world, Pope Leo XIV addressed the faithful for the first time from the Central Loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica.
“Peace be with you!” he proclaimed. “Dearest brothers and sisters, this was the first greeting of the risen Christ, the good shepherd who gave His life for the flock of God. I, too, would like this greeting of peace to enter your hearts, to reach your families and all people, wherever they are.”
Continuing the legacy of his predecessor, he invoked the memory of Pope Francis, describing his voice as “weak but always brave” and thanked him for blessing the world with humility and courage. “God loves us, all of us, evil will not prevail,” Pope Leo XIV said. “We are all in the hands of God. Without fear, united, hand in hand with God and among ourselves, we will go forward. We are disciples of Christ… the world needs His light.”
A son of Saint Augustine and a member of the Augustinian order, Pope Leo XIV echoed his spiritual father: “With you I am a Christian, for you a bishop,” he quoted.
The Pope thanked his brother cardinals “for choosing me to be the Successor of Peter” and pledged to journey with them in building “a united Church… working together as women and men, faithful to Jesus Christ without fear, proclaiming Christ, to be missionaries, faithful to the gospel.”
He issued a special greeting to the Church of Rome and emphasised the need to be a missionary and synodal Church—open, charitable, and committed to dialogue. “Like this square, open to all who need our charity, our presence, dialogue, love.”
In a heartfelt moment, he switched to Spanish to greet the people of his former diocese in Peru: “Hello to all and especially to those of my diocese of Chiclayo in Peru, a loyal, faithful people accompanying the bishop and helping the bishop.”
Returning to Italian, Pope Leo XIV concluded by invoking the intercession of the Virgin Mary on the day of the Supplicatio to Our Lady of Pompei: “Our blessed mother Mary always wants to walk with us… So let us pray together for this mission, and all of the Church, and for peace in the world.”
With that, the crowds in St. Peter’s Square joined the new Pope in praying the Hail Mary — a prayer of unity and hope, beginning a new chapter in the history of the Catholic Church.