Pope Leo XIV formally began his pontificate on Sunday (18), extending his hand to the conservatives who felt orphaned under the command of his predecessor, crying for unity and promising to preserve the inheritance of the Catholic Church and not rule as “an autocrat.”
After a first walk in the Paparmobile in front of tens of thousands of people in St. Peter’s Square, Leo XIV was formally sworn in as the 267th Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church and sovereign monarch of the Vatican City in an outdoor mass.
Supporters in the crowd stirred the US and Peru flags, with people from both countries claiming him as the first pope of his nations.
Born in Chicago, the 69 -year -old has spent many years as a missionary in Peru and also has Peruvian citizenship.
The crowd shouted “Live Il Papa” (long life to the Pope) and “Papa Leone”, his name in Italian, while his distinguished convertible Paparmobile serpent through St. Peter’s Square.
Robert Prevost, a relatively unknown man on the world scenario that became cardinal just two years ago, was elected Pope on May 8, after a brief conclave that lasted only 24 hours.
He succeeded Francisco, an Argentine, who died on April 21 after leading the often turbulent 12 -year church during which he fought the traditionalists and defended the poor and marginalized.
US Vice President JD Vance, a converted Catholic who conflicted with Francisco due to White House-line immigration policies, led an American delegation alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is also a Catholic.
Vance briefly squeezed the hand of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the beginning of the ceremony. The two last met in February in the White House, when they fell fiercely before the world media.
In his sermon, read in Fluent Italian, Leo said that, as a leader of the 1.4 billion Roman Catholics of the world, he would not shrink to modern challenges and that, at least on social issues such as the fight against poverty and the protection of the environment, he would continue Pope Francis’ legacy.
Leo XIV stated that the cardinals who elected him have chosen someone “capable of preserving the rich inheritance of the Christian faith and, at the same time, looking to the future in order to face the issues, concerns and challenges of the world today.”
APPEAL TO UNIT
Francisco’s papacy left a divided church, with the conservatives, accusing him of sowing confusion, particularly with his makeshift comments on sexual morality issues such as same-sex unions.
Stating that he was assuming his mission “with fear and tremor”, Leo XIV used the words “unity” or “united” seven times and the word “harmony” four times.
“It is never about capturing others by strength, religious propaganda or through power. Instead, it is always and only a matter of loving, as Jesus loved,” he said, in apparent reference to a war of words between Catholics who define themselves as conservative or progressive.
“Brothers and sisters, I would like our first great desire to be for a united church, a sign of unity and communion, to become yeast for a reconciled world,” he said.
The conservatives also accused Francis of governing oppressively and regretted him that he disregarded his concerns and not consulting widely before making decisions.
Referring to St. Peter, the 1st century Christian apostle from whom the popes derive their authority, Leo XIV said: “Peter must shepherd the flock without ever giving in to the temptation to be an autocrat, dominating those entrusted to him. On the contrary, he is called to serve the faith of his brothers and sisters and walk with them.”
Highlighting the uninterrupted lineage of popes since St. Peter, the choir sang the traditional hymn “You ES Petrus”, which in Latin means “you are Peter”.
Many world leaders attended the ceremony, including Peru, Israel and Nigeria Presidents, the prime ministers of Italy, Canada and Australia, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and European Commission Chairman Ursula Von Der Leyen.
European royalty also occupied its seats in VIP seats near the main altar, including Spanish king Felipe and Queen Leticia.
As part of the ceremony, Leo XIV received two symbolic items: a liturgical clothing known as the Pallium, a lamb wool strip representing his role as a pastor and the “fisherman ring”, in honor of the first Pope, St. Peter, who was a fisherman.
The golden ceremonial ring ring is cast especially for each new Pope and can be used by a lion to seal documents, although this purpose has fallen into disuse in modern times.
The accessory shows St. Peter holding the keys of the sky and will be broken after the death or renunciation of Leo XIV.
This content was originally published in Papa Leo XIV calls for church unity and promises not to be a “autocrat” on CNN Brazil.
Source: CNN Brasil
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