Victor EzejaThe newly elected head of the Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV, celebrated his inaugural Mass with the College of Cardinals in the Sistine Chapel, Vatican City, on Friday.
During the mass at Sistine Chapel on Friday, the new pope called on the people to always cultivate personal relationship with Christ; insisting that without faith, life lacks meaning.
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The pope, who is also regarded as the Bishop of Rome, began his first homily with words in English during the mass.
Pope Leo is expected to have a private lunch with the cardinals who elected him after the Mass.
The cardinals will soon leave for their home countries, as the pope shifts his focus to complex issues that include discussions on LGBTQ inclusion, the status of divorced Catholics, and mounting calls to increase the number of women in Church leadership.
“We are called to bear witness to our joyful faith in Christ the Saviour…”
Pope Leo XIV gave this reminder during his first Mass as pontiff with the College of Cardinals in the Sistine Chapel – the exact site where the electors chose him as the 267th Pope on the fourth ballot…
Formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, the cleric is the first American pontiff and the first pope from the Augustinian Order, a religious order under the Catholic Church that follows the precepts of Saint Augustine of Hippo.
Born in Chicago in 1955, he was ordained a priest on 19 June 1982 and served for decades as a missionary and later Bishop of Chiclayo in Peru before being appointed by late Pope Francis for other religious functions at the Vatican.
His election followed the death of Pope Francis which occurred last month.
His election came after a two-day conclave that started on Wednesday, 7 May. With the famous white smoke rising Thursday night from the Sistine Chapel’s Chimney, the large crowd of faithful who gathered at St. Peter’s Square knew that a new pope has been elected.
— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) May 9, 2025
Newly elected Pope Leo XIV began his first homily with words in English during Mass in the Sistine Chapel with the College of Cardinals. pic.twitter.com/BgiwQS8U8f
— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) May 9, 2025
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
