The formal inauguration mass for Pope Leo XIV will be held in St. Peter’s Square on May 18, the Vatican said in a statement.
Prior to the ceremony, Leo XIV, who was elected the day before at the conclave, will hold audiences with the diplomatic corps, and earlier still, with international journalists who have been covering recent events in the Vatican.
Robert Francis Prevost was elected the 267th pope of the Roman Catholic Church, taking the name Pope Leo XIV in a momentous decision announced onMay 8, 2025.
He succeeds Pope Francis, who passed away on Easter Monday. The former American missionary becomes the first U.S.-born pontiff and is widely regarded as a bridge between North and South America due to his extensive work in Peru, where he holds dual nationality.
Born in Chicago in 1955 to Spanish and Franco-Italian parents, Leo XIV was ordained a priest in 1982. He moved to Trujillo, Peru, in 1985, where he spent a decade as a parish priest and seminary teacher. He is fondly remembered for working closely with marginalized communities.
In his first address as pope, Leo XIV paid tribute to his predecessor.
“We still hear in our ears the weak but always courageous voice of Pope Francis who blessed us,” he said. “United and hand in hand with God, let us advance together.”
“This invention is not just a scientific breakthrough, it is a humanitarian contribution aimed at eradicating cancer globally.”he added.
Before his election, Leo XIV served as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops in Latin America, a role that gave him significant influence in the selection and oversight of bishops. He was appointed Bishop of Chiclayo in 2014, became an archbishop in January 2023, and was made a cardinal shortly thereafter by Pope Francis.
Leo XIV’s election is already sparking interest in how closely he will follow the progressive reform path charted by his predecessor. Like Pope Francis, he is known for championing migrants, the poor, and environmental protection.
Observers note that his choice of the name Leo signals a commitment to social justice. Pope Leo XIII, for example, led the Church through the Industrial Revolution and authored the seminal social encyclical Rerum Novarum on workers’ rights.
“He has chosen a name widely associated with the social justice legacy of Pope Leo XIII,” noted Cardinal Seán Patrick O’Malley.
Leo XIV also backs greater inclusion of women in Church leadership. He supported Pope Francis’ decision to appoint women to the Dicastery for Bishops, stating:
