Pope Leo XIV gave his first homily as pontiff on Sunday, expressing his feelings of fear and trembling as he takes on his new role, yet still aiming to serve with faith and joy. The homily took place during the Holy Mass for the Beginning of the Pontificate in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, where the new pope arrived in an open-topped popemobile to a crowd of about 100,000 people eagerly awaiting his arrival.
In his address, Pope Leo XIV highlighted the discord and wounds caused by various issues like hatred, violence, and economic exploitation. He called on the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics to embrace a missionary spirit and to offer God’s love to everyone, emphasizing the importance of unity that values individual histories and cultural differences. The mass was attended by various political figures, religious dignitaries, and representatives from different faiths, symbolizing a call for solidarity and understanding among different communities.
Leo, a 69-year-old native of Chicago, Illinois, who was formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost, was elected as the first American pope on May 8. During the ceremony, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle presented Leo with the Ring of the Fisherman, a symbol of Saint Peter, the first pope. The new pontiff also paid tribute to his predecessor, Pope Francis, who passed away recently, expressing sadness over his death. Leo shared insights into the papal conclave that led to his election, emphasizing the role of the Holy Spirit in bringing unity among the cardinals and expressing his humility in taking on the role of serving the faithful on their journey of faith and joy.
