An open -face popemobile that transported Pope Leo XIV on Sunday morning through the Plaza de San Pedro in El Vaticano, where Miles gathered before the newly chosen opening Mass of the US Pontiff.
The Mass, called the Holy Mass for the beginning of the pontificate, began in the Basilica of San Pedro in the city of the Vatican at 10 am local time.
Pope Leo XIV greets the multitude of Popemobile before a Holy Mass for the beginning of his pontificate, in the Plaza de San Pedro in El Vaticano on May 18, 2025.
Tiziana Fabi/AFP through Getty Images
Mass attendees, which marks the official beginning of Leo’s papacy, included vice president JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, along with other political figures and religious dignitaries. Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy greeted each other and shake hands before the Mass.
The president of Ukraine, Volodymr Zelenskyy, on the left, and vice president JD Vance greets himself as Secretary of State Frame Rubio, Centro, looks ahead of the formal inauguration of Pope Leo XIV of his pontificate with a Mass in the Plaza de San Pedro assisted by the heads of state, Royaly and Fe Featful, Sunday, May 18, 2025.
Gregorio Borgia/AP
Representatives of the Ecumenical, Jewish, Muslim, Hindus, Buddhist, Sikhs, Zoroastrian and Jainist churches attended, said the Vatican Santa Headquarters press office.
Leo, who was previously Cardinal Robert Prevost, is a 69 -year -old native of Chicago, Illinois. Chosen on May 8, he is the first American to direct the Church.
Pope Leo XIV in his Popemobile Tours St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican before the inaugural mass of his pontificate, Sunday, May 18, 2025.
Andrew Medichini/AP
Pope Francis, his predecessor, died on April 21, after he was discharged from a stay at the hospital for a week.
This is a development story. Consult the updates again.
Megan Forrester of Abc News contributed to this report.
