Pope Leo XIV has issued a call to unity and a “missionary spirit” during his inaugural mass at the Vatican, marking the beginning of his papacy. In his first homily as pontiff, he urged the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics to embrace a sense of global citizenship, rather than closing themselves off in small groups.
Leo spoke of the need for unity and an end to “hatred, violence, prejudice, and economic exploitation.” He called on the faithful to offer God’s love to everyone, regardless of differences. The pope also honored his predecessor Pope Francis, who passed away earlier this month, and paid tribute to the Catholic cardinals who gathered in the Sistine Chapel to elect him.
The inaugural mass drew a large crowd, with around 200,000 people attending in St. Peter’s Square. Attendees included Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as well as leaders from various other faiths. Pope Leo XIV wore the traditional Ring of the Fisherman during the ceremony and promised to serve God’s love with “fear and trembling.”
Leo emphasized the importance of unity and service, saying that Catholics should be “called to offer God’s love to everyone” in order to achieve this goal. He also urged the faithful to support those who suffer due to war and conflict. The pope’s inaugural mass marked a new beginning for his papacy, which begins with a strong emphasis on global citizenship and unity.
Source: https://abcnews.go.com/International/pope-leo-xiv-tours-st-peters-square-popemobile/story?id=121919621