Pope Leo XIV formally began his ministry as head of the Catholic Church by celebrating his inaugural Mass on Sunday in St. Peter’s Square, attended by over 150,000 faithful and global leaders. The historic event featured the pope’s first ride in the popemobile, blessings to the crowd, and reception of key papal symbols—the pallium and Fisherman’s Ring—signifying the new pope's role as supreme shepherd and successor of St. Peter. In his homily, Pope Leo XIV commemorated Pope Francis’s pontificate and expressed his hope for a united Church, urging all to walk together “on the path of God’s love.” He also prayed for peace, support, and comfort for those who suffer, invoking the intercession of Our Lady and urging all to look to her. Pilgrims from across the globe expressed their deep emotion and joy at witnessing this once-in-a-lifetime ceremony. EWTN Vatican journalist Zofia Czubak has more.

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