Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, promised today during his inaugural mass in St. Peter's Square that he would work for unity, so that the Catholic Church would become a symbol of peace in the world, reports the Beta agency.
The pope was officially enthroned at a mass during which he received two customary symbols - a woolen scarf placed over his shoulders, and a fisherman's ring - an ancient symbol of Jesus Christ. After that, the pope rode in the popemobile through the square where about 150.000 pilgrims gathered to greet him.
Pope Leo said at the mass that he wants to be a servant to the faithful through the two dimensions of the papacy, love and unity, so that the church can be a force for peace in the world.
"I would like the church to be united to be the foundation for a reconciled world. We still see too much discord, too many wounds caused by hatred, violence, prejudice, fear of difference and an economic paradigm that exploits the Earth's resources and marginalizes the poorest," he added.
"Let us build a church based on God's love and unity, a missionary church that reaches out to the world," said Pope Leo.
At the end of the mass, he expressed hope that the negotiations would lead to a "just and lasting peace" in Ukraine and offered prayers for the people of Gaza — children, families and the elderly whose lives have been "reduced to starvation."
Reuters reported earlier today that Leo XIV, leading his inaugural mass, promised to safeguard the teachings of the Catholic Church while calling on it to face contemporary challenges.
Addressing thousands of people in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Leo stressed the need for the 1,4 billion-member Church to remain rooted in its tradition without becoming isolated, saying there was no place for religious propaganda or power plays in the institution's future.
Reuters reported that, echoing the priorities of his predecessor, Pope Francis, Leo criticized the global economic system, which he said "exploits the Earth's resources and marginalizes the poorest."
He also warned against the centralization of power within the papacy, saying he would seek to rule "without ever yielding to the temptation to be an autocrat."
United States Vice President J.D. Vance, a Catholic convert and one of the last foreign officials to see Pope Francis before his death, led the American delegation to this gathering.
Strict diplomatic protocol dictated the seating arrangement at the inaugural mass, with both the US and Peru given front-row seats, thanks to the pope's dual citizenship.
Peruvian President Dina Boluarte was one of a dozen heads of state who attended the enthronement, as was Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Russia was represented by Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova.
Prime Minister Milojko Spajić leads the Montenegrin delegation at the inauguration ceremony of Pope Leo XIV.
Bonus video:
