Ten days after his election in a speedy conclave, Pope Leo XIV (previously Robert Francis Prévost) gathered his trustworthy in St. Peter’s Square for the inaugural mass of his preach. Before the mass started, tens of hundreds of the gathered observers on the foot of St. Peter’s Basilica have been capable of catch a glimpse of the pontiff arriving. He greeted the crowd from his popemobile—a first since his election.
As was the case for Pope Francis’ funeral, which occurred on April 26, many heads of state and political representatives have been in attendance. Vice President JD Vance, who was among the last to meet with the previous Pope Francis, arrived along with his spouse Usha. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, accompanied by his spouse Olena Zelenska, European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni took half within the mass, as did French Prime Minister François Bayrou. All greeted the Pope with a handshake contained in the basilica.
Many royals additionally accepted the invitation. King Felipe VI and his spouse Queen Letizia have been seated not removed from King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium. Just a few seats additional again have been Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, Prince Albert and Princess Charlène of Monaco, who paired her customary white veil with a midi-length gown by designer Elie Saab for the occasion. Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg have been additionally among the many parishioners. All 4 ladies made use of their privilege of white—which entitles sure Catholic queens and princesses to put on a veil and white clothes when assembly the Pope. Princess Victoria represented the Swedish crown, whereas Prince Edward represented the United Kingdom.
The service addressed the state of affairs throughout nations. “We still see too much discord, too many wounds caused by hatred, violence, prejudice, fear of the other, by an economic paradigm that exploits the Earth’s resources and marginalizes the poorest,” Pope Leo XIV lamented.
He additionally spoke of the humanitarian state of affairs in Gaza and that its inhabitants had been “reduced to starvation” and known as for “negotiations for a just and lasting peace” for the “martyred Ukraine.” Later within the day, the Ukrainian president met the Pope for a personal viewers, and then spoke for round half-hour with the Vice President Vance. The two politicians discussed the telephone call between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin scheduled for Monday.
