On 18 May 2025, Pope Leo XIV celebrated the inauguration Mass of his pontificate, formally known as the "Mass for the Beginning of the Petrine Ministry of the Bishop of Rome". The event was attended by some 200,000 people, including dozens of world leaders and 150 formal delegations. While Leo became the Roman pontiff at the moment of his acceptance in the Sistine Chapel upon being elected in the 2025 papal conclave, the inauguration celebration marked the formal beginning of his ministry as the bishop of Rome. The Mass included the bestowal of the pallium and Ring of the Fisherman, and was followed by meetings with various delegations and world leaders.
Ceremony
Prior to the ceremony, Leo toured St. Peter's Square in the popemobile for the first time, where attendees shouted ! (Long live the Pope), and "USA, USA!" with at least one person chanting "White Sox!", referencing his country of birth and favorite baseball team. Others waved Peruvian or American flags for the countries that claim him as a citizen.
The liturgy formally began at 10a.m. at Saint Peter's tomb underneath the baldachin of the high altar of St. Peter's Basilica. Surrounded by the patriarchs of the Eastern Catholic Churches, Leo incensed the tomb while the choir sang , a motet by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina. Ascending from the grottoes, Leo was joined in procession to the square by two deacons holding the Ring of the Fisherman and the papal pallium, as well as cardinals and bishops. The traditional Laudes Regiae chant was sung during the procession. Leo then conducted the asperges rite, typical on Sundays of Eastertide.
The first reading, from Acts 4:8-12, was proclaimed in Spanish, referencing Leo's work in the Diocese of Chiclayo. Psalm 118 was sung in Italian, for his new diocese; the second reading, from 1 Peter 5:1-5, 10-11, was proclaimed in English by a faculty member from the Pontifical North American College, referencing Leo's native tongue. The Gospel, John 21:15-19, was chanted in Latin by a deacon from the Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend, Indiana, then subsequently chanted in Greek.
Representing the cardinal deacons, Mario Zenari imposed the pallium on Leo's shoulders. Then, representing the cardinal priests, Fridolin Ambongo Besungu conferred a prayer of blessing on the pope. Finally, Luis Antonio Tagle, for cardinal bishops, bestowed the Ring of the Fisherman upon the pontiff; Leo appeared visibly moved by the moment. Following the investment of the insignia, twelve delegates representing the Catholic Church from around the world, including clerics, vowed religious, a married couple, and young adults, were received by Leo. The homily delivered by Leo followed, where he spoke in Italian.
The prayers of the faithful were delivered in Arabic, Chinese, French, Polish, and Portuguese. was chanted during the offertory. Leo prayed the Roman Canon.
Before the conclusion of Mass, Leo offered some brief remarks, especially offering prayers for the conflicts in Gaza, Myanmar, and Ukraine. The Regina cæli was sung, followed by the final blessing.
Some 30 heads of state, 200 cardinals, and 750 bishops and priests were present. Throughout the ceremony, Leo used the papal ferula commonly used by Pope John Paul II.
Formalities
Princess Charlene of Monaco, Queen Letizia of Spain, Queen Mathilde of Belgium, and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg exercised the privilège du blanc extended to Catholic royalty by wearing white to the ceremony.
Homily
Leo began his sermon by thanking those who were present and remembering the emotions of the previous weeks following the death of Pope Francis and subsequent conclave. Recalling the two-fold aspects of ministry entrusted to Saint Peter, love and unity, Leo said he would approach the Church as a brother and servant and with "fear and trembling". Leo expressed a desire for unity and communion in the Church and in the world. He condemned exploitation of Earth's resources and marginalization of the poor. He referenced his papal motto, "in the one Christ, we are one", and exclaimed "Look to Christ! Come closer to him!"
Subsequent activities
After the ceremony, Leo entered St. Peter's basilica and met with 150 delegations in front of the St. Peter's baldachin. Among the delegations was his brother Louis, whom he embraced. After the inauguration, Leo met with Peruvian president Dina Boluarte and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
On Monday, 19 May, Leo met with US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Vance appeared to give Leo a Chicago Bears jersey with the name "Pope Leo" and number "XIV". Leo also met with Gustavo Petro, president of Colombia; Bartholomew, the ecumenical patriarch of Constantinople; Gerardo Werthein, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship of Argentina; and representatives of other churches, ecclesiastical communities, and religions.
In the days following the inauguration, Leo took possession of the other major basilicas, with ceremonies held at the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls on 20 May, and at the Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran and the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore on 25 May, formally installing him as the Bishop of Rome.
Official delegations
States
Country Official delegation Ref. Albania President Bajram Begaj Andorra Co-Prince Archbishop Joan Enric Vives i Sicília, Representative of the French Co-Prince Patrice Faure, Prime Minister Xavier Espot and General Syndic Carles Ensenyat Antigua and Barbuda Governor–General Rodney Williams World leaders, delegates set to attend Pope Leo XIV’s inaugural Mass Argentina Minister of Foreign Relations Gerardo Werthein El papa León XIV recibió a Werthein y a Pettovello: ¿cuándo será la reunión con Milei? Armenia President Vahagn Khachaturyan Lista De Personalidades Esperadas En La Entronización Del Nuevo Papa León XIV AustraliaPrime Minister Anthony Albanese AustriaChancellor Christian Stocker, Minister of Foreign Affairs Beate Meinl-Reisinger Azerbaijan Speaker of the National Assembly Sahiba Gafarova Bahamas Ambassador Joseph Curry BelarusSpeaker of the House of Representatives Igor Sergeenko BelgiumKing Philippe of the Belgians and Queen Mathilde, Prime Minister Bart De Wever Bolivia Ambassador Teresa Susana Subieta Serrano Bosnia and HerzegovinaChairwoman of the Council of Ministers Borjana Krišto BrazilVice President Geraldo Alckmin CanadaPrime Minister Mark Carney ColombiaPresident Gustavo Petro CroatiaPrime Minister Andrej Plenković, Minister of Foreign Affairs Gordan Grlić-Radman, Speaker of the Parliament Gordan Jandroković CubaSalvador Valdés Mesa, Vice President of Cuba Czech Republic Minister of Agriculture Marek Výborný Ecuador President Daniel Noboa FrancePrime Minister François Bayrou Gabon President Brice Oligui Nguema GermanyChancellor Friedrich Merz Georgia President Mikheil Kavelashvili Hungary President Tamás Sulyok IndiaDeputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha Harivansh Narayan Singh Ireland President Michael D. Higgins Israel President Isaac Herzog ItalyPresident Sergio Mattarella, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani, President of the Senate Ignazio La Russa, President of the Chamber of Deputies Lorenzo Fontana and President of the Constitutional Court Giovanni Amoroso Japan Former prime minister Taro Aso Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani Latvia Prime Minister Evika Siliņa Lebanon President Joseph Aoun Liechtenstein Hereditary Prince Alois and Hereditary Princess Sophie, Prime Minister Brigitte Haas Lithuania President Gitanas Nauseda Luxembourg Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, Prime Minister Luc Frieden Malta Prime Minister Robert Abela MexicoSecretary of the Interior Rosa Icela Rodríguezhttps://www.eluniversal.com.mx/nacion/la-titular-de-segob-rosa-icela-rodriguez-acude-al-vaticano-entrega-carta-para-invitar-al-papa-leon-xiv-a-mexico/ MonacoPrince Albert II and Princess Charlene Morocco Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch Montenegro Prime Minister Milojko Spajić Mozambique Prime Minister Maria Benvinda Levy Netherlands Queen Maxima and Prime Minister Dick Schoof Nigeria President Bola Tinubu PanamaJavier Martinez-Acha, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Panama Paraguay President Santiago Peña and President of the Chamber of Deputies Raúl Latorre PeruPresident Dina Boluarte Poland President Andrzej Duda Portugal President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa Russia Ambassador to the Vatican Ivan Soltanovsky Saint LuciaGilbert Chaguory, Ambassador of St. Lucia to the Holy See Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Honorary Consul Dr. Ruediger Ackermann San Marino Captains Regent Denise Bronzetti and Italo Righi Saudi Arabia Minister of Foreign Affairs Adel al-Jubeir and Prince Faisal bin Sattam Al Saud Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs attends Pope Leo XIV’s inaugural mass Serbia Prime Minister Đuro Macut Slovakia President Peter Pellegrini Slovenia Prime Minister Robert Golob SpainKing Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, Deputy Prime Ministers María Jesús Montero and Yolanda Díaz, Minister of the Presidency and Justice Félix Bolaños and Leader of the Opposition Alberto Núñez Feijóo SwedenCrown Princess Victoria, Minister for Social Affairs and Public Health Jakob Forssmed and Archbishop of Uppsala Martin Modéus SwitzerlandPresident Karin Keller-Sutter Taiwan (Republic of China)Former Vice President Chen Chien-jen TogoPresident Faure Gnassingbé UkrainePresident Volodymyr Zelenskyy United Kingdom Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh (representing the King of the United Kingdom and the Supreme Governor of the Church of England), Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner United States of AmericaVice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio (and spouses) UzbekistanSpeaker of the Legislative Chamber Nuriddinjon Ismailov
Other entities Subject of International Law Official delegation Ref.European CommissionUrsula von der LeyenSovereign Military Order of MaltaPrince and Grand Master John T. Dunlap
Religious figures Christian communities Community Official delegation Ref.Apostolic ChurchesArmenian Apostolic Church Bishop Koryoun Baghdasaryan Coptic Orthodox Church Bishop Barnaba of Turin and Rome, Bishop Damian of Northern Germany, Bishop Marc of Paris and Northern France, and Bishop Kyrillos of Los Angeles Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of ConstantinopleUnion of Utrecht of the Old Catholic Churches Archbishop of Utrecht Bernd Wallet and Frank Bangerter, Bishop of SwitzerlandProtestant communitiesAnglican ChurchArchbishop Leonard Dawea, Archbishop Stephen Cottrell, Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe and othersLutheran World Federation Anne Burghardt World Council of Churches Heinrich Bedford-Strohm and Jerry Pillay World Communion of Reformed Churches World Methodist Council Debra Padgett Wallace and Joshua Rathnam OtherThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Elder Matthew S. Holland
Other religions Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, Zoroastrian and Jainist leaders were present.
Community Official delegation Ref.JudaismRabbi Noam Marans, Director of Interreligious Affairs of the American Jewish Committee
References